USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 34
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The surname of Tierney is derived from Tighearna, an Irish word, meaning
Conn-9-16
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lord or owner. It was in use as a name first in the spelling, O'Tighearnaighe, which has been anglicized into Tierney.
(I) John Tierney was a native of Bal- lylooby, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was a carpenter and contractor, and was prospering well when he died at the early age of thirty years. He married Judith Fitzgerald, and they were the parents of Jeremiah Tierney, of further mention ; and of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Tierney, de- ceased, a sketch of whom follows.
(II) Jeremiah Tierney, son of John and Judith (Fitzgerald) Tierney, was a man of keen business ability and determina- tion. His strength of mind and quick grasp of a situation made him a leader among his fellow-men. He was born in Bal- lylooby, near Mitchelstown, County Tip- perary, Ireland, and died in Greenwich, Connecticut. He came to America with his widowed mother when he was but four years old, and they settled in Nor- walk, Connecticut. The public schools of that place afforded him his early educa- tion, and after leaving school he learned the trade of hatter, which he followed many years. The hatters organized the first labor union in the United States, and Mr. Tierney became the National secretary of the organization. It was in this office that he displayed that force of magnetism which made him a power among his brother workmen. He prac- tically settled one of the first big strikes in that trade in 1884. After his marriage, and while still working at his trade, he took up the study of law under the pre- ceptorship of two able tutors, namely, L. P. Deming, of New Haven, Connecticut, and General Nelson Taylor, of Norwalk, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1882. Mr. Tierney was an admirable lawyer, of clear and impartial judgment.
He entered into the public life of the city and was active in many affairs of public service. He served as clerk of the Bor- ough Court of Greenwich, 1896 to 1899, and was later deputy judge of the same court, while for two terms, 1911 to 1915, he served as judge of probate. In his political views Mr. Tierney was a Demo- crat ; he was appointed by Governor An- drews as one of the commissioners to in- vestigate the labor conditions in prisons throughout the United States.
In 1861 Mr. Tierney enlisted in the Sixty-Ninth Company, New York Vol- unteer Infantry, and at one time was the only lawyer in the town of Greenwich who had been a member of the Grand Army. He was a member of Douglass Fowler Post, No. 48, of South Norwalk. He was one of the very early members of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Tierney married (first) Mary Ann Loughlin, daughter of Michael Loughlin, a native of Limerick, Ireland, and of five children born to them four grew to ma- turity: I. Alice, who is Sister M. Ber- nerdini, of the Sisters of Charity, Baltic, Connecticut. 2. Kate, who is Sister M. Bertrand, a Sister of Mercy, at Hartford, Connecticut. 3. William Lawrence, of further mention. 4. Bertha, wife of Jo- seph F. Steegmuller, of Greenwich.
(III) William Lawrence Tierney was educated in the public schools of Norwalk, Connecticut, and later was graduated from Fordham University, in 1898, with the degree of B. A., and from New York Law School in 1900, with the degree of LL. B., and he has an honorary degree of M. A. from the same college. Previous to entering Fordham, Mr. Tierney had taken up the study of law under private tutors, and for a time read law in the of- fice of DeLancey Nicoll, and was asso- Soon after 1882 Mr. Tierney removed to ciated with John R. Dos Passos for two Greenwich and there opened a law office. years. Mr. Tierney was admitted to the
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New York bar in 1900, and the same year opened an office in that city, which he maintains to the present time in addition to his office in Greenwich, Connecticut. He conducts a general practice, has a very large clientele, and is one of the acknowl- edged leaders of Fairfield county bar. An eminently public-spirited citizen, Mr. Tierney is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of his State. He served for two years as judge of the Borough Court of Greenwich, being appointed by Governor Baldwin during the famous deadlock in the Legislature, at which time he was an active State leader. Gov- ernor Baldwin's right to do this was dis- puted, and to test the question, he made three appointments of judges, one each in Hartford, Middletown and Greenwich. The Supreme Court upheld Governor Baldwin's contention. For two years Mr. Tierney was a resident of Denver, Colo- rado, and while there was admitted to the Colorado bar.
Mr. Tierney's fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Columbus, a mem- ber of Orinoco Council; he is a member of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, the Greenwich Country Club, and the New York Athletic Club.
Mr. Tierney married Mary I. Brady, daughter of John T. Brady, of New York City. The latter was a prominent con- tractor and builder; he built Grant's Tomb and the Singer building, and re- modeled the old City Hall. He is now a widower. Mr. and Mrs. Tierney are the parents of a son, William Lawrence, Jr.
TIERNEY, Michael A., Rt. Rev., Former Bishop of Hartford.
The administration of Bishop Tierney, sixth bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, was marked by wisdom and kindness. During the years in which he labored to
advance the interests of religion, he won the friendship and respect of those of every denomination and creed through his gentleness of heart and faithfulness to duty.
Bishop Tierney was born September 28, 1839, at Ballylooby, County Tipper- ary, Ireland, the son of John and Judith (Fitzgerald) Tierney (q. v.), and died in 1908. When a boy of eight years he was brought to America by his parents, who settled at Norwalk, Connecticut. His ed- ucation was obtained in the public schools, and his training for the priest- hood was in St. Thomas's College, Bards- town, Kentucky, and St. Joseph's Provin- cial Seminary, of Troy, New York. On May 26, 1866, Bishop Tierney was or- dained to the priesthood by Bishop Con- roy, of Albany, New York, and his first pastorate was at Providence, Rhode Is- land, as rector of the Cathedral.
The school of the Christian Brothers at Providence was erected by Bishop Tierney, and while there he also served as chancellor to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Mc- Farland. From Providence, Father Tier- ney was transferred to New London, Con- necticut, as rector of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church, succeeding Rev. Father O'Connor. Again his zeal was demon- strated in his work of completing the building of the church. However, before it was finished, his labors were trans- ferred to Stamford, Connecticut, where he remained for three years. Thence, Fa- ther Tierney went to St. Peter's Church, Hartford, Connecticut, and the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and the addi- tion to the parochial school are both si- lent testimonials to his efficient work there. After six years he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church, New Brit- ain, in 1883, succeeding Rev. Hugh Car- mody. It is particularly noticeable that the parishes under the charge of Father
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Tierney flourished and grew; in New Britain he built the beautiful stone church. and also purchased land for a new cem- etery. These were a few of the material works which has marked his administra- tion. Father Tierney was a true father to his flock, to spend and be spent his ab- sorbing desires.
A partial reward and a demonstration of the veneration and esteem in which Father Tierney was held is shown in his appointment, by the Apostolic Delegate, Mgr. Satolli, as bishop of Hartford, and on February 22, 1894, his consecration took place at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hartford.
In the character of Bishop Tierney were embodied noble qualities and sterl- ing traits. He lived for his church and the welfare of the souls entrusted to his care. His courage and patience in the face of obstacles proved his confidence in divine Providence; he was loved in life and lamented in death.
In June, 1895, Bishop Tierney made a visit to Rome, Italy. Three years later he was elected National president of the National Total Abstinence Union. In the city of Hartford, the scene of his final labors, stand two institutions, which for generations to come will be worthy mon- uments to the memory of this good man, of which he was the founder-St. Tho- mas's Seminary and St. Francis's Hos- pital. Bishop Tierney died in 1908.
HOFFECKER, William D., Physician, Hospital Official.
A member of the medical profession of Fairfield county, and one who merits the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, Dr. William D. Hoffecker is also among the leading citizens of New Canaan. This family was founded in America by the great-grandfather of Dr. Hoffecker, Abra-
ham Hoffecker, who came from Germany and settled in that part of Delaware known as Dutch Neck.
(II) Joseph Hoffecker, son of Abraham Hoffecker, was born about 1801, and died in 1872, at the age of seventy-one years. He was brought up on the home farm, and soon after attaining his majority went into the bark business with his brother, under the firm name of Joseph and Henry Hoffecker. The bark business was very extensive in that day. The bark of the black oak tree yielded mostly yel- low powder, which was ground by huge millstones, run edgewise in circles. This product was called "Quercitron." It was packed in hogsheads and shipped to every prominent local and foreign port on the globe, for dyeing and tanning purposes. At the time of his brother's death, Joseph Hoffecker discontinued the bark business and engaged in the gristmill business in what is now Cheswold, Kent county, Del- aware. He was active in this work until several years before his death, when he retired from active duties.
In politics Mr. Hoffecker was a staunch Whig, and although very active in the work of this party did not seek to hold public office, and on several occasions re- fused to be a candidate for office. He was appointed by Governor William Templeton of Delaware as captain of a company of soldiers during the Mexican War in 1848. Mr. Hoffecker married Sabra Denney, and they were the parents of six children: Nancy, Elizabeth, Rob- ert, John, Joseph, and Albert T., of fur- ther mention. The family attended the Methodist Episcopal church.
(III) Albert T. Hoffecker, son of Jo- seph and Sabra (Denney) Hoffecker, was born March 5, 1841, near Cheswold, Del- aware, and he was but a small boy when his father removed to Smyrna, Delaware, and there he attended school and grew to
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manhood. For some time he taught Delaware, from which he was graduated school during the winter and worked on in 1904. Thence he went to the Hahne- mann Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating with the degree of M. D. in 1908. He was president of his class in the junior year. From there Dr. Hoffecker entered the Metropolitan Hospital at Blackwell's Island, remaining for two years, and in 1910 started to prac- tice in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he remained for two years. the farm in the summer, as was the cus- tom at that time. Two brothers, Robert and John Hoffecker, was engaged in the woolen mill business in Milford, Dela- ware, under the name of the Haven Wool- en Mills. They had been very successful, and Albert T. went there to work and to learn the business. In all he remained about ten years, during which time he learned carding and spinning. The mill Since 1912 Dr. Hoffecker has been lo- cated in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he has won an enviable reputation. He is on the staff of the Stamford and Nor- walk hospitals; is a member of the Stam- ford Medical Society ; the Norwalk Med- ical Association; and the Connecticut State Homoeopathic Society. was destroyed by fire and he returned to Cheswold, where he assumed charge of his father's gristmill. In 1882 he gave up the milling business and bought a farm, which he conducted until 1911, making a specialty of grains and fruits. In poli- tics Mr. Hoffecker was a Republican in a section which was strongly Democratic. He was a candidate for the Legislature twice, but was both times defeated.
During the Civil War, Mr. Hoffecker served in the Delaware Volunteer In- fantry, Sixth Regiment, and was detailed to guard the bridges at Havre de Grace, Maryland. His fraternal affiliations were with the Odd Fellows, being a member of Stella Lodge. He married Mary Eliza- beth Smith, daughter of William and Martha Smith, of Cheswold. They were the parents of two sons: William D., of further mention; and Norman Smith, born September 9, 1889, now residing in Clayton, Delaware, and the father of a son, John Olney Hoffecker. Albert T. Hoffecker and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Hoffecker has held many of the offices connected therewith. Mrs. Hoffecker died July 13, 1896.
(IV) William D. Hoffecker, son of Al- bert T. and Mary E. (Smith) Hoffecker, was born December 26, 1883, in Ches- wold, Delaware, and was educated at the Wesley Collegiate Institute at Dover,
Fraternally Dr. Hoffecker is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 67, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Clinton Command- ery, Knights Templar ; Lafayette Consist- ory; Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Bridgeport. He is a member of the New Canaan Grange and of the Pomona Grange of Fairfield county.
Dr. Hoffecker married Helen Richey, daughter of Romaine Richey, of Katonah, New York, April 4, 1910, and they are the parents of two children: Albert T., 2d, born May 8; 1911; Mary Josephine, born August 14, 1915. Dr. Hoffecker and his family attend and support the Method- ist Episcopal church of New Canaan.
TUTHILL, James Wood,
Dairyman.
The ancestry of the Tuthill family can be traced back to the earliest period in Colonial history to John Tuthill, one of the Pilgrims. The surname itself is very ancient, record being found of one Wil-
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liam Tothill, who was Bailiff in London in 1528, and Lord Mayor in 1552. Mem- bers of this family are found among the useful citizens in their communities, and an Hon. William Tuthill, in his address before one of the family gatherings, brings out this fact in his reference to the quotation of William Stoughton, 1668, "God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice seed into the wilderness." The early members of the Tuthill family were among those selected to go into the wilderness, and many of the fine char- acteristic traits of these forebears have been imbibed by their descendants.
The surname, Tuthill, is of a very in- teresting origin. It was originally Toot- Hill, and signified a hill where a beacon light was burned to notify distant towns of a coming battle, or some particular event. As was customary at that early date, some remote ancestor who dwelt nearby this hill derived his name from the location of his home, and it has been re- tained down through the centuries until it is among the oldest and most honored of surnames.
James Wood Tuthill, undoubtedly a direct descendant of the immigrant, John Tuthill, was born in Elmira, New York. There he grew to manhood, and after completing his schooling secured employ- ment with the W. I. Young Company, of New York City, butter and egg mer- chants. His next position was with the Erie Railroad Company in their account- ing department in Jersey City. Thence he went with the Lester Milk Company, having a direct interest in the business. After learning some details of the busi- ness, he engaged in a similar business on his own account and made wholesale shipments of milk from Newton, Falls Village, and Sheffield, Connecticut, with business headquarters in New York City. About 1879 Mr. Tuthill became a resident
of Bridgeport, and at this same time dis- posed of his creamery in New York City He engaged in a similar business in Bridgeport under the firm name of the Roger Farm Dairy Company. Mr. Tut- hill continued successfully for many years, and was widely known among the leading dairymen of Fairfield county. His fra- ternal connections were with the Masonic order in Bridgeport.
Mr. Tuthill married Alice A. Durland, daughter of Oscar Durland, of Chester, New York, and a descendant of one of the early families of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Tuthill were the parents of three sons: I. Frederick, who married May Spinning, and was the father of David Tuthill, of Bridgeport, Connecticut ; Mr. Tuthill is now deceased. 2. Oscar Dur- land, whose sketch follows. 3. Percy M., who receives extended mention below.
TUTHILL, Oscar D., Business Man, Public Official.
Oscar Durland Tuthill, son of James Wood and Alice A. (Durland) Tuthill (q. v.), was born January 15, 1877, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He received his education in the public schools there, and immediately after completing his schooling went on a farm and engaged in the retail milk business. He was suc- cessful in his business from the start, and continued in the vicinity of Bridgeport until 1902, in which year he sold his interests and removed to Greenwich, Connecticut. Soon after this time, Mr. Tuthill engaged in a similar business, taking as a partner his brother, Percy M. Tuthill. Their business name was Round Hill Farms, and in addition to their business as milk distributors, they also handle butter and eggs in large quan- tities. A working force of about twenty people is necessary to maintain this large
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and growing business, and both members of the firm are favorably and widely known for the excellence of their prod- ucts. Mr. Tuthill is a Republican in pol- itics, and for four years ably served his constituents as selectman. He is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks.
Mr. Tuthill married Jane Hunter, daughter of Samuel Hunter, of Bridge- port, Connecticut, and they are the par- ents of a son, Charles Hunter Tuthill, who was born July 5, 1907.
TUTHILL, Percy M.,
Business Man, Public Official.
Percy M. Tuthill, son of James Wood and Alice A. (Durland) Tuthill (q. v.), was born November 12, 1878, in Bridge- port, Connecticut. In the public schools of his native city, he received his early education, and his first step in the world of business was in the employ of the American Graphaphone Company of Bridgeport, where he remained for about five years. He then went to New York City, and was in the employ of Swift & Company as a butter and egg salesman. Thence he went to Waterbury. Connec- ticut, and found employment as book- keeper for the Waterbury Scrap Iron Company. Mr. Tuthill had not yet found work which was entirely pleasing to him, and he did not wish to permanently set- tle in any business until he felt that it was his calling. Therefore, having an op- portunity to go West, to Toledo, Ohio, he did so and for a year or more was em- ployed as a traveling salesman; his ter- ritory took him through the states of Ohio and Michigan, and the exeperience thus gained has been of untold value to him. In the meantime a brother of Mr. Tuthill, Oscar D., a sketch of whom precedes this, had removed to Greenwich
and engaged in a general milk distrib- uting business. He took his brother into partnership in this business, and the very first day their sales amounted to one hun- dred and eighty-nine quarts. In addition to this they also handle large quantities of butter and eggs. Mr. Tuthill is also a director of the New England Dried Milk Company, which he helped to organize.
In politics Mr. Tuthill is a Republican, and served as a member of the Board of Burgesses. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Tuthill married Lillian Pickett, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
SCOFIELD, Loomis,
Leading Citizen.
In the annals of Fairfield county, Con- necticut, there is frequent mention found of the name of Scofield and it is always in connection with the progress and devel- opment of the community. It is an old and distinguished family ; the surname is derived from the localities where the indi- viduals resided who first took this name. Scolefield, the original form of Scofield, literally signified a field containing small houses or cottages, similar to those which would be found on the estate of the early titled English families. Through the cen- turies this changed in form and spelling to the present day usage, Scofield. The progenitor of the family was Daniel Sco- field, born in the parish of Rochdale, Lan- cashire, England. He was a grandson of Sir Cuthbert Scofield, of Scofield Manor, the family being of ancient and honor- able lineage. In the reign of Queen Eliz- abeth arms were granted to Sir Cuthbert Scofield as a younger son of the Scofields of Kent, who was knighted for services, A. D. in the Spanish Armada. There are
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indications that the name could be traced one hundred years farther than Sir Cuth- bert Scofield. The name simply has been Scofield in the records for more than three three hundred years. Schofield, Scovile and Scoville are variations.
Daniel Scofield came to America in 1639, in the ship "Susan & Ellen," and after residing for a time at Ipswich, Mas- sachusetts, he located in Stamford, Con- necticut, where his death occurred in 1671. On December 7, 1641, he received two acres consisting of a home lot, and three acres of woodland, as the first company. He was a man of prominence in the col- ony and served as marshal of Stamford in 1658. He married Mary Youngs, daughter of Rev. John Youngs. She mar- ried (second) Miles Merwin.
A worthy descendant and prominent scion of this old family, Loomis Scofield, was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, July 12, 1845. He is a son of Charles Wil- liam Scofield, born in New Canaan, June 20, 1809, died September 25, 1877. He married, December 20, 1829, Rhoda Nor- throp, born April 9, 1812, died December 20, 1898. Charles W. Scofield was brought up on a farm and then went into business as a manufacturer of baskets. Early in life he had learned the trade of shoe- maker, which business he followed as a manufacturer. He went to New York City to sell his shoes and this was his principal business until the latter part of his life, when he took up the manufacture of baskets.
listed in the navy. He shipped as a lands- man and was rated as fireman in charge of the watchman. Subsequently he was rated as a first class fireman and was in the engine room, later becoming chief en- gineer's yeoman. He served on the United States steamship, "Union," until the close of the war. Then he went into the tea and coffee business, also carrying a line of spices, extracts and light gro- ceries. His business was wholesale and retail, and Mr. Scofield has the distinction of being the first man in that kind of busi- ness in his section. When he returned from the war, his parents were living in North Stamford, and there he made his headquarters. Mr. Scofield had several wagons on the road for about twenty-five years, and these covered a wide range of territory. After his son succeeded him in his business, Mr. Scofield went on the road as salesman for S. T. Willetts & Company and was with that firm and also its successor, Jacob Stahl, Jr., & Com- pany, for years. The latter were cigar dealers and Mr. Scofield was their super- intendent for Connecticut and a portion of the State of New York. In all, he was in the business about twenty years, until 1910, in which year he unfortunately was injured in a trolley accident and from which he has never fully recovered. For a year he was in a very serious condi- tion, and since then has not engaged in any commercial business, but it can hardly be said that he has retired as will appear in what follows.
Loomis Scofield, son of Charles W. Mr. Scofield is a staunch Republican and an active worker, but not a seeker for public office. He is a member of Wooster Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of New Canaan; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Veterans' Association of Connecticut ; Scofield, was educated in the public schools of New Canaan and Norwalk, and until he was seventeen years old was working on the homestead. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty-eighth Regular Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, and after his discharge en- was one of the charter members of the
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Daughters of Liberty; was a charter member of the old council now bearing the name of American Men; member of Women's Relief Corps, Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of Samuel P. Ferris Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, of New Canaan ; he had been com- mander for four years when he was elected commodore of the National Asso- ciation of Naval Veterans. He was fleet commander and chief of staff of the Na- tional Association of Naval Veterans, and was elected commodore of the National Association of Naval Veterans of the United States of America, 1861-65, in 1919, and was reëlected for the third term in 1920, at the convention held in Indianapo- lis. He has been captain of the Naval Veteran Association of Connecticut since 1916.
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