USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 51
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Mr. Murphy married Marie Krieter, daughter of Karl Krieter, a native of Ger- many.
JESSUP, Howard Delbert,
Transportation Manager.
The name of Jessup has been identified with Fairfield county from the beginning of its history. A worthy representative of this old American family is Howard Del- bert Jessup, of Stamford, a member of the firm of Jessup & Miller, which is en- gaged in the taxi-cab business, and who are also the local sales agents for the Bris- coe automobiles. Mr. Jessup was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, December 2, 1878, son of Eliakim Marshall and Julia Belle (Morrell) Jessup.
The surname of Jessup is derived from the Italian Christian name, Guiseppe (joo- sep-pa), anglicized into Joseph. Even in
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the early records pertaining to the immi- grant, Edward Jessup, we find him re- ferred to as Edward Joseph. This is easily explained by the fact that the names were spelled from their pronunciation by the clerks of the early colonies.
(I) Edward Jessup, immigrant ances- tor of the family, was born in England, and died in Fairfield county, Connecticut, in the autumn of 1666. Prior to 1649 he came to New England and was a citizen of Stamford, Connecticut, where he owned land in that year. In 1652 he removed to Middleborough, now Newtown. He served as magistrate in 1659, 1660, 1661, and 1662. He was active in the civil life of the colony, and in its defense from Indians. His wife, Elizabeth Jessup, mar- ried (second) Robert Beauchamp.
(II) Edward (2) Jessup, son of Ed- ward (I) and Elizabeth Jessup, was born in 1663, and was but three years of age when his father died. He was taken by his mother to live in Fairfield, and there he became a freeman. In 1720 he moved to Stamford, where he was a farmer. He married, in 1692, Elizabeth Hyde, born August 23, 1669, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Harvey) Hyde, and she died October 2, 1747. John Hyde was born about 1642, and was a son of Humphrey Hyde, who came from England in 1640, and early settled in Fairfield. John Hyde married Elizabeth Harvey, daughter of Richard Harvey, of Stratford.
(III) Jonathan Jessup, son of Edward (2) and Elizabeth (Hyde) Jessup, was baptized August 3, 1707. He was a farmer and carpenter. He removed to Green- wich after 1732, and lived there until his death. His wife's Christian name was Sarah, and she is believed to have been much younger than he.
(IV) Jonathan (2) Jessup, son of Jon- athan (1) and Sarah Jessup, was born
September 12, 1734, and died April 12, 1805, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He married Ann Lockwood, born in 1738, died April 14, 1825, daughter of Gershom and Mary (Ferris) Lockwood. She was a direct descendant of the immigrant, Robert Lockwood, who came from Eng- land in 1630, and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was made a free- man of Connecticut, May 20, 1652, being recorded as a settler of Fairfield as early as 1641. Robert Lockwood died in Fair- field in 1658. The Christian name of his wife was Susannah, and she died Decem- ber 23, 1660, in Greenwich, Connecticut. Lieutenant Gershom Lockwood, their son, was born September 6, 1643, in Wa- tertown, and died March 12, 1718, in Greenwich. He was the principal car- penter and builder of the town, and filled many offices. Lieutenant Lockwood married Lady Ann Millington, daughter of Lord Millington, of England. She received a beautiful carved chest from her parents in England which was in the possession of Samuel Ferris, of Green- wich. Gershom (2) Lockwood, son of Lieutenant Gershom (1) Lockwood, was born in Greenwich, and was admitted a freeman of the Colony, February 7, 1693- 1694. With his brother, William, he built a bridge across the Mianus river. His wife's Christian name was Mary, and their son, Gershom (3) Lockwood, was born in Greenwich. He married Mary Ferris, born in 1708, died February 9, 1796, and their eldest daughter, Ann, mar- ried Jonathan Jessup, of Stamford. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup were the parents of the following children : Jonathan, James, An- na, Ebenezer, Edward, Gershom, Samuel, Timothy, Peter, Hannah, Sarah, Mary.
(VI) Samuel Jessup, great-grandfather of Howard Delbert Jessup, was the son of one of the above named children, for in
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his will Jonathan (2) Jessup expressly calls Samuel Jessup his grandson. Sam- uel Jessup died June 2, 1843, aged fifty- five years, nine months and thirteen days, according to the inscription on his tomb- stone. His wife, who was Susan Dibble before her marriage, died October 6, 1852, aged sixty-four years, seven months and eighteen days.
(VII) Petrus Van Fleming Jessup, son of Samuel and Susan (Dibble) Jessup, was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Oc- tober 10, 1817, and died April 13, 1900. He was reared on a farm, and learned the trade of mason. He had engaged in business as a mason contractor all his life, all the while engaged also in farm- ing. He married Julia Ann Ferris, born March II, 1821, daughter of Daniel Fer- ris, of Sound Beach, and granddaughter of Shubael Ferris.
(VIII) Eliakim Marshall Jessup, son of Petrus Van Fleming and Julia Ann (Fer- ris) Jessup, married Julia Belle Morrell, daughter of Isaac Lewis Morrell, of Greenwich. Children : Clarence, Howard Delbert, Crawford S., and Effie V., living on Cove avenue, East Norwalk, Connec- ticut.
(IX) Howard Delbert Jessup, son of Eliakim Marshall and Julia Belle (Mor- rell) Jessup, was educated in the public schools of Greenwich. He began his business life as a clerk in the clothing store of Joseph Ferris, of Greenwich. Like most youths of his age, his mind had not then been made up as to his oc- cupation, but he discovered that the con- finement of clerical work was not suited to his temperament, so we next find him in the employ of Walter Smith as a driver. After nine years in that position he left to become an outside man for the grocery house of Acker, Merrill & Condit, with whom he remained six years. In the
summer of 1913, Mr. Jessup began driving a bus, and in 1917 he started in the omni- bus business on his own account. He runs a bus line through North Stamford avenue, Stamford, and in addition carries on a taxi-cab business, which is increas- ing in volume. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. Jessup married Iva R. Toms, daughter of Charles R. Toms, of Stam- ford, and they are the parents of two daughters: Dorothy Dean, born August 13, 1906; Audrey Belle, born June 8, 1912. With his family Mr. Jessup attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
MEANY, William Stephen,
Public Official, Business Man.
By nature one of much determination and force, William S. Meany, postmaster of Greenwich, Connecticut, has through liis own achievements won a well de- served place among the leading citizens of Greenwich. He is public-spirited and interested in all that pertains to the wel- fare of Greenwich and the State of Con- necticut. Mr. Meany was born in New York City, November 26, 1875, son of Patrick and Mary (O'Brien) Meany.
William Stephen Meany attended the public schools of New York and the Col- lege of the City of New York. After completing these courses, he entered the business world, at first in a clerical ca- pacity, and later became identified with the club and hotel business. His first important position in this line was as manager of the Gramatan Inn, Bronx- ville, New York. This house was de- stroyed by fire, and Mr. Meany took charge of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, Long Island. For two years he continued in this posi- tion, until 1902, in which year he became
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William S. She
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private secretary to the commodore of the club, E. C. Benedict. In 1908 Mr. Meany resigned to embark in the real estate and insurance business. After a short time in the office of a dealer where he acquired a knowledge of the routine of the business, he opened his own office and quickly developed a large business. He buys properties in addition to build- ing houses for sale, and is said to be the largest owner of real estate of any realty dealer in Greenwich. In 1912 he built the Meany building, and since entering this field of business he has erected more modern business buildings in Greenwich than had previously been built there by any industrial builder, and has sold many of them. The property on which the mil- lion dollar Pickwick Arms is being built was owned by Mr. Meany.
In politics he is a member of the Dem- ocratic party, and has several times been honored by his constituents with positions of trust. In 1914 he was treasurer of the borough, and before his term had expired was appointed postmaster of Greenwich by President Woodrow Wilson. He has served as delegate to many conventions, and is in great demand in political cam- paigns because of his oratorical ability. Mr. Meany was chairman of the War Bureau of Greenwich during the World War, having been appointed at a meeting called in Bridgeport to organize that bu- reau in Greenwich. He was also active on some of the Liberty Loan committees and in the work of the various organiza- tions cooperating with the government. Socially Mr. Meany is a member of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club and the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Meany married Josephine Sullivan, of New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Meany are the parents of nine children : Helen, William S., Jr., Josephine, George, Ruth, Frances, Richard, Louise, and Alice.
Conn-9-24
RAYNER, George A.,
Mill Superintendent.
In Connecticut there are many success- ful business men who are the architects of their own fortunes, and who are num- bered among the most useful and valued citizens. Among such is George A. Ray- ner, superintendent of St. George's Paper Mill in Norwalk. Obliged to work while still a boy of tender years, he exhibited a determination and perseverance which has characterized him throughout his lifetime.
The name of Rayner is found in many different spellings in the early records. Among them are Reyner, Rayner and Raynore. Literally the name signifies "mighty army." The name is more com- monly met with in England where the family has long been resident. The men are especially skilled in the trades of weaving and spinning, and although Mr. Rayner was born in New England, it seems very natural to find him following the occupation of his ancestors.
John Rayner was a native of Putsey, England, where he learned the trade of jack-spinner. After coming to America he followed this occupation in East Roch- ester, New Hampshire, and in 1869 re- moved to Franklin, New Hampshire, and worked at his trade in the mills of that city. He married, in England, Elizabeth Hargraves, and out of their large family of sixteen children only four grew to maturity. They were: William, now de- ceased; Sarah, deceased; Elizabeth, wid- ow of Fred Hicks, resides in Hillsboro, New Hampshire; George A., of further mention.
George A. Rayner, youngest surviving child of John and Elizabeth (Hargraves) Rayner, was born April 28, 1866, in Ro- chester, New Hampshire, and at an early age went to work in the Steven's Woolen Mill in his native town. It was the cus-
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tom at that time for the young boys to start to work early, many being only nine years of age, as was Mr. Rayner. Until he was sixteen years old he spent his time learning the trades of weaving and spinning. In 1882 he went into a paper mill in Franklin, New Hampshire, and there learned paper making. For many years Mr. Rayner remained at this occu- pation, and through his diligence and at- tention to his duties rose through various grades until in 1908 he was made fore- man of the mill. In 1914 he came to Nor- walk and as machine tender at first en- tered the employ of the mill of which he is now superintendent. He has not been with the St. George Paper Mill consecu- tively, part of the time having been spent in Fitzdale, Vermont, and later, in 1886, he went to Berlin, New Hampshire, remain- ing there until 1887, when he went to Bellows Falls, Vermont, and in 1900 lo- cated in Niagara Falls, New York. In 1915 he became superintendent of the Norwalk mill, which position he now fills in a capable manner. Mr. Rayner is a Republican in politics, and while a resi- dent of Franklin served two years as a member of the Council. He is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, Franklin, New Hampshire, and of uniformed rank there; member of the Improved Order of Red Men, Mone- mac Tribe, of Franklin.
Mr. Rayner married (first) Mary Cock- arton, of Berry, England, and they were the parents of a daughter, Jennie Eliza- beth, who became the wife of Harry Hun- toon, and mother of Walter and Gwen- dolyn Huntoon. Mr. Rayner married (second) Mrs. Sophie Stather. Mrs. Ray- ner attends Grace Episcopal Church, and Mr. Rayner the Methodist Episcopal church.
FLYNN, James E.,
Business Man.
The Flynn family derived their name from Flann, who was a celebrated an- nalist, poet, and professor at Monaster- boice, and who died A. D. 1056. It is found in the early records with the spell- ing, O'Flainn, and without the prefix. The name is Gaelic and signifies flame.
James E. Flynn, one of the leading bus- iness men of South Norwalk, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, July 24, 1875, a son of James and Catherine (McGurke) Flynn. His father, James Flynn, was a native of Ireland, and as a young man came to America, locating in Danbury, Connecticut. There he learned the trade of hatter, which he followed in different shops throughout his lifetime. He was a thrifty man and an upright citizen, and was always interested in public matters. Mr. Flynn married Catherine McGurke, a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and their children were: John, of East Norwalk; George W., of Norwalk ; James E., of further mention, and Mary.
James E. Flynn, son of James and Cath- erine (McGurke) Flynn, received his edu- cation in the public schools of Danbury. At an early age he entered a hat shop and learned the hatter's trade, which he worked at for about three years. Leav- ing his work, he enlisted in the United States Army, January 7, 1895, and was discharged January 6, 1898. He reën- listed the next day and was discharged from his second term, in February. 1899. Mr. Flynn was assigned to the 9th In- fantry, and during the period of his first enlistment was stationed in the United States during the entire time. During his second enlistment, he was connected with the same regiment and was sent to Tampa, Florida, and thence to Cuba. He was discharged for disability, and after
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leaving the army was not engaged in business for about a year. He then re- turned to his trade of hatter and worked at it for some time, until he became na- tional representative of the United Hat- ters, a labor organization, which office he held four years. On August 1, 1908, Mr. Flynn formed a partnership with Edward F. Magner under the firm name of Mag- ner & Flynn, and was engaged in the liquor business until national prohibition went into effect. Mr. Flynn was one of the organizers and has since been a member of the board of directors of the People's Trust Company, of South Nor- walk. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Fraternal Order of Eagles; the Spanish War Veterans, and for twenty years was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. Flynn married Margaret McNam- ara, daughter of John McNamara, of Newark, New Jersey, and Danbury, Con- necticut, and they are the parents of two children : Mary Gladys and George E.
FOX, James G.,
Contracting Electrician.
The surname Fox belongs to a class of family names taken from the bird and animal kingdoms and including also many inanimate objects, which have a most in- teresting origin. It is only within com- paratively recent times that the ability to read and write in English speaking coun- tries at last has become universal. When such ability was rare, it would have been futile to designate places of business with lettered signs; it was therefore the cus- tom to designate stores and taverns by painted or carved likenesses of birds, an-
ferred to as "John of the Bell-in-Hand," "Tom of the Red Swan Inn," and so forth. No doubt the first individual to assume the name Fox as a surname acquired it in this way, and in time the preposition and article were dropped, the individual becoming known as James or Peter Fox.
James G. Fox, a scion of this ancient name, was born in Greenwich, Connecti- cut, September 13, 1892, son of Thomas E. and Marcella (Smith) Fox. His father was for many years engaged in business as an electrical contractor, and is now living retired in Greenwich.
James G. Fox was educated in the gram- mar and high schools of Greenwich, and in 1910, after his graduation, started to learn the electrical business with the Greenwich Engineering Company. After two years spent with this firm, Mr. Fox bought his present business from his fa- ther, and has since been successfully en- gaged in a general electrical business. He has a store in which a general line of elec- trical merchandise is carried, but the major portion of the business is in con- tracting work. Mr. Fox has proved him- self to be possessed of those qualities which make the successful man ; although not yet thirty years of age, he has at- tained a well deserved place among the business men of Greenwich.
During the World War, he was a mem- ber of the 315th Ammunition Train, 90th Division, and was sent to France. He served at St. Mihiel and in the Argonne. Thence he was sent to Coblenz, Germany, receiving his discharge in July, 1919.
DORAN, Joseph A.,
Business Man.
As one of the enterprising business imals and familiar objects, and the pro- men of Greenwich, Connecticut, Joseph prietors of such establishments were re- A. Doran has achieved success through
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his own effort. From a modest start, he has built up a trucking business, which is rapidly increasing. By strict attention to his affairs, and by maintaining a high standard of efficiency, Mr. Doran has firmly established himself in a business which is a community benefit as well as advantageous to himself.
Mr. Doran was born in Greenwich, Jan- uary I, 1876, son of Cornelius and Mar- garet (Dunden) Doran. His father was born in Westmeath, Ireland, and died February 4, 1895, in Greenwich, aged fifty- eight years. At the age of twelve he ran away from home and came to America, embarking on a sailing vessel, which took three months to make the trip. Mr. Doran located in Greenwich and obtained employment on a farm. As a young man he went to work as a section hand on the railroad and was soon made a foreman. He continued in this employment until 1876, when he went into the trucking bus- iness on his own account, in which busi- ness he was active during his lifetime. He started with one horse and wagon, but at the time of his death it required eleven horses to do the work. Mr. Doran developed the biggest business of the kind in Greenwich in his day.
Cornelius Doran married Margaret Dunden, and they were the parents of the following children : William, of Coscob; Cornelius, Annie, Margaret, Patrick, Jo- seph A., who is of further mention be- low, and Francis and Edward Doran.
Joseph A. Doran was reared in Green- wich and there he attended the public schools. He went to work for his father, and at the death of the latter, entered into business on his own account. His brother, William, succeeded to the fa- ther's business, but about five years ago Mr. Doran purchased this business from
his brother and now operates two auto trucks and eight horses. Mr. Doran's fraternal interests are with the Improved Order of Red Men; the Foresters of America ; and also the Knights of Colum- bus.
Mr. Doran married Josephine Busch, daughter of William Busch, of Brooklyn, New York, and they are the parents of seven sons: William, Elmer, Francis, Augustus, Robert, Joseph and Cornelius Doran.
MITCHELL, Albert E.,
Contractor, Public Official.
Albert E. Mitchell, one of the leading contractors of Greenwich, Connecticut, holds a foremost place among the busi- ness men of that city, a position which has been won through his own initiative alone. He is an energetic young man, possessed of good judgment, and is prompt in his business dealings. The contracting business, of which he is now the head, was founded by his father, Peter Mitchell, and since the death of the lat- ter in 1911, the son has been in sole charge. During the nine years which have since elapsed, Mr. Mitchell has added to its breadth and scope in many ways; much new equipment has been added and a large force of laborers main- tained to fulfill several of the important contracts.
The Mitchell family assumed the sur- name of Mitchell after the coming of Peter Mitchell to America, it being the anglicized form of the Italian name, Mi- cieli.
Peter Mitchell, the father of Albert E. Mitchell, was born in the village of Rose, in Cosenza, Calabria, Italy, and died at
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
his home in Greenwich, Connecticut, De- cember 13, 1911. His boyhood and youth were passed in his native town, and he was employed there as a foreman on a railroad previous to coming to America. After his arrival in New England, Mr. Mitchell continued as a laborer on rail- roads in various places, and in spite of the handicaps, ignorance of the language and customs, the ambitious youth worked his way upward, and through his thrifty habits was preparing himself for the day when his confidence would enable him to start in business for himself. Eventu- ally he located in North Mianus, and continued to work in the vicinity for a few years. At that time Mr. Mitchell was sufficiently schooled in the language and possessed the ability to meet the con- ditions of his new environment. His first venture into the world of business was in contracting work, at first on a very small scale, which proved the wisdom of his conservative nature. In addition to his contracting work, Mr. Mitchell also sup- plied Italian labor to other firms. Out of that small beginning has grown the large business which the son, Albert E. Mitchell, now conducts. Throughout his entire life the father was active in busi- ness, and his interest in the public life of Greenwich was a keen one. A Repub- lican in politics, he was a staunch party worker though never a candidate for of- fice. Mr. Mitchell's funeral was a very large one, a testimony to the esteem in which he was held.
Peter Mitchell married Maria Ginise, daughter of a native of Calabria, Italy. They were the parents of the following children : Albert E., of whom further ; El- mer, a graduate of the Worcester Poly- technic Institute, B. S., is now field engi- neer for the Southern New England Tele-
phone Company, and resides in Green- wich; Theodore, now a student at Am- herst College; Florence, Comfort, Milo, Abner, Arthur, Virginia.
Albert E. Mitchell, the eldest child of this family, was born in Greenwich, April 22, 1891. He was educated in the public schools of North Mianus and at the Greenwich Academy. Following this, Mr. Mitchell took a course at Merrill's Business College, Stamford, and spent a short time in an architect's office. He then entered the Barnard School for Boys in New York City, where he remained for four years. Mr. Mitchell spent some time in studying in the Art Student's League in New York, and was intending to enter Columbia University when the death of his father made it necessary for him to cut short his studies and assume the management and responsibilities of the contracting business. It had devel- oped into an important enterprise at that time, and under the able management of Mr. Mitchell the magnitude of the busi- ness has increased five hundred per cent. The present equipment consists of a steam roller, steam shovel, two steam boilers, a steam hoist derrick, concrete mixer, six horses, large motor truck, seven steam drills, and three air compres- sors. The number of men employed varies greatly according to the number and nature of the contracts on hand, but as many as five hundred men are often employed at a time. For four years Mr. Mitchell has held the office of justice of the peace of Greenwich, and is otherwise active in the municipal affairs of that town. He is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Mitchell married Elizabeth Noon- an, daughter of John Noonan, of New- burgh, New York.
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RUSSELL, George Daniel,
Hotel Proprietor.
There are few residents of Norwalk who would dispute the statement that Colonel Russell is one of the best known citizens of that place, and there are prob- ably none who would fail to declare that not one is better liked. Ever active in the promotion of the most essential interests of his home city, serving at one time as a member of the Common Council, he has also a record of honorable service in the Spanish-American War.
The name Russell was originally de Rosel, from Rosel, an ancient fief in the neighborhood of Cherbourg, Normandy, the family being a younger branch of the barons of Briquebeck. Hugh de Rosel, a benefactor of the abbey of Caen, ac- companied William the Conqueror to England, and in reward for his services received grants of land in Dorsetshire. Early in the seventeenth century branches of the Russell family were transplanted to the American colonies, John and Wil- liam Russell settling about the same time in the province of Massachusetts.
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