Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 698


USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 8


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Crest-A crow proper, standing on a sheaf of corn.


Motto-Nec careo, nec curo, signifying "I have neither want nor care."


(I) William W. Craw, grandfather of Frank C. Craw, was born January II, 1777, in Dinoon, Scotland, and came to America about 1800. He located in South Norwalk, Connecticut, and for many years was the keeper of the toll-gate be- tween Darien and South Norwalk. Mr. Craw is buried in Rowayton. He mar- ried Sally Jarvis Webb, born July, 1782, daughter of Moses Webb, of Norwalk (see Webb XI).


(II) William Thomas Craw, son of


William W. and Sally Jarvis (Webb) Craw, was born in January, 1816, and died in April, 1897. He grew to manhood in Norwalk, Connecticut, and learned the trade of carpenter. As a young man he went into business on his own account, later entering a partnership with Burr Knapp. Many of the fine old residences in Norwalk and vicinity were built by Mr. Craw and he built the old Methodist Episcopal church building. Singularly enough, on the very day he was buried, they started to move the old church off the lot to make room for a new and larger edifice. Under the first city charter of South Norwalk, a City Court was estab- lished and he was appointed the first city judge, a position which he held for many years. Mr. Craw had no formal legal training, but was self-taught in the law, and his logical mind, keen perception and sound judgment made his decisions just and equitable, based as they were on the facts in cases and the fundamentals of substantial justice rather than on the technicalities of law and procedure which are often used to defeat justice. A man of fine intellectual caliber, Mr. Craw was held in high esteem by all those whose pleasure it was to know him. In politics he was a Republican, and was a member of the Legislature for several terms. In his later years, Mr. Craw removed to New York City and made his home with his son, John W. Craw, and after this time did not engage in any business.


Mr. Craw married Mary Selleck, daughter of Ray Selleck, of Norwalk, and they were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity. Their children were: Ann Eliza, deceased, wife of Alfred Kellogg; John W., who died in 1916; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of How- ard H. Smith; Mary, deceased, married Robert M. Wilcox, of Norwalk; Joseph- ine, married J. Manning ; Decker, of Nor-


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walk ; Charles T., died in 1883; Frank C., land. He was an officer of rank in the of further mention. army of King Henry VIII.


(III) Frank C. Craw, son of William Thomas and Mary (Selleck) Craw, was reared and educated in South Norwalk, Connecticut, and after completing public school studies he obtained employment in a Norwalk insurance office, and subsequent- ly was engaged in the same line of business in New York City. After returning to Norwalk he was employed at the hatter's trade for about five years. During all of this time Mr. Craw had been interested in perfecting many laborsaving devices which were the fruits of his inventive brain. Possessed of originality and im- agination, combined with natural mechan- ical ability, he has made and patented a number of inventions. Notable among them were machines for hat manufactur- ers which are widely in use. The first in this line was a stiff hat paring machine, and prior to the invention of this machine hats were pared by hand, and the inven- tion of Mr. Craw proved to be a great labor saver. His latest inventions are a soft hat rounding machine, and a new type of automatic spring which obviates the need of shock absorbers, the spring itself controlling the rebound which is the cause of breaking springs. Mr. Craw is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.


Mr. Craw married Sarah E. Harvey, daughter of Ebenezer Harvey, of Dover, New Hampshire. Her mother was Jo- sephine (Mullen) Harvey, of Pluta, and there Mrs. Craw was married. Mr. and Mrs. Craw are the parents of two sons: Harvey, born May 5, 1881, married Grace A. Simmons, of Rochester, New York; and Frank V., born February 14, 1883, married Mary Gilhooly. Mrs. Craw at- tends the Baptist church of Norwalk.


(The Webb Line).


(I) The Webb family is descended from Sir Alexander Webb, born in 1484 in Eng-


(II) Sir Henry Webb, eldest son of Sir Alexander Webb, was born May II, 1510. He was an usher to the Privy Council of Catherine (Parr), Queen Re- gent of Britain in the sixteenth century. Sir Henry Webb married, in 1533, Grace Arden, sister of Robert Arden. His sister married one of the same family and had a daughter who married, in May, 1652, John Shakespeare, father of William Shakespeare, the poet.


(III) Alexander (2) Webb, son of Sir Henry Webb, was born December 24, 1534, in Warwickshire, England. He settled in Birmingham, England. He married his cousin, Margaret Arden.


(IV) Alexander (3) Webb, son of Alexander (2) and Margaret (Arden) Webb, was born August 20, 1559. The latter married Mary Wilson, daughter of Sir Thomas Wilson, private secretary to Queen Elizabeth of England.


(V) Richard Webb, son of Alexander (3) and Mary (Wilson) Webb, was born May 5, 1580, in Warwickshire, England, and died in 1655 in Norwalk, Connecticut. He came to America in 1626, and was a member of Hooker's company, settling in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1636. Richard Webb was among the first settlers of Norwalk, being at the time well advanced in years, and he was among the first of the pioneers to pass beyond. He mar- ried (first) in May, 1610, Grace Wilson, daughter of John Wilson; he married (second) Elizabeth Gregory, daughter of Henry Gregory, a prominent citizen of Boston, and a sister of John Gregory, a first settler of Norwalk.


(VI) Richard (2) Webb, son of Rich- ard (1) and Grace (Wilson) Webb, was born January 9, 1611, in Birmingham, England, and died March 15, 1675. He came to America with his father, and was for a time a resident of Norwalk. He was


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Daniel 713 Hickey


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY


one of the progenitors of Stamford, Con- necticut. He married


(VII) Joseph Webb, son of Richard (2) Webb, was born March 30, 1636. He married


(VIII) Joseph (2) Webb, son of Jo- seph (1) Webb, was born January 5, 1674. He married, February 23, 1698, Mary Hoyt, born September 20, 1673, daughter of Benjamin ยท and Hannah (Weed) Hoyt.


(IX) Epeneutus Webb, son of Joseph (2) and Mary (Hoyt) Webb, married Deborah Ferris.


(X) Captain Moses Webb, son of Epeneutus and Deborah (Ferris) Webb, was born February 18, 1756, and died in 1850. His home was in the Five Mile river tract now known as Rowayton. Captain Moses Webb was one of the gal- lant soldiers of the Revolution. He mar- ried Sally Street.


(XI) Sally Jarvis Webb, daughter of Captain Moses and Sally (Street) Webb, became the wife of William W. Craw (see Craw I).


HICKEY, Daniel Francis Bray, Lawyer, Served in World War.


The old belief that merit is not appre- ciated until death claims those who are deserving of it is now changed. In this age of progressiveness and great business interests, with the world on the outlook for men of merit, once found, they are quickly rewarded. No better opportunity was found to learn of these men than dur- ing the recent World War, when so many of our finest type of young manhood freely gave of themselves and their services in the interest of a common cause. The city of Stamford, Connecticut, is proud of its many sons who nobly responded to the call, but its pride in the achievements of Captain Daniel Francis Bray Hickey


is a thing in itself. Captain Hickey is a native of Stamford, born there, October 25, 1887, son of Daniel and Mary T. (Bray) Hickey.


The name of Hickey was originally O'h-Icaigh and MacIocaigh. The Hickey family descends from Eochy Baldearg of the race of Cormac Cas, Ing of Munster, Ireland. The Hickeys were formerly chiefs of a district in the vicinity of Kil- laloe, County Clare, also of a cantred in the barony of Upper Connello, in the County of Limerick. James Hickey, in the Bar- ony of Tulla, County Clare, had his es- tates confiscated in 1652, and granted to Cromwellian settlers. This confiscation was confirmed by act of settlement, in 1666. Several members of the family have been notably distinguished in the legal and medical professions. Nichol O'Hickey translated into Irish from the Latin, the medical work, "The Rose."


Patrick Hickey, grandfather of Daniel F. B. Hickey, was born in County Queens, Ireland, and died at the age of ninety years. He married Mary Mc- Veigh, a native of the northern part of Ireland. The youth of Patrick Hickey was spent in his native land, and when about thirty years of age he came to America, locating in Stamford, Connecti- cut. There he spent the greater part of his life and was long engaged in working for Colonel Holly, a well known sidewalk contractor of that time.


Daniel Hickey, son of Patrick and Mary (McVeigh) Hickey, was born in Stam- ford, Connecticut, May 8, 1856. He was educated in the public schools of that city, and at an early age became an apprentice to a local blacksmith, and after learning the trade engaged in business on his own account. His ambition did not stop there and Mr. Hickey began to take contracts for the excavation of foundations for buildings, work in which he met with


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great success. For some time he had been serving as a special policeman, and in 1890 was appointed a member of the po- lice force, which position he still holds. Mr. Hickey has been a policeman for many years and is now the oldest member of the department. He is held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen, and has an unusually large number of friends among the citizens of the city.


Mr. Hickey married Mary T. Bray, daughter of William and Mary (Standish) Bray, of Parish Carrigtohill, County Cork, Ireland, and they were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living. They are: William Cyrus, of Stamford; Daniel F. B., of further men- tion ; Jessie.


The Bray family, of which Mrs. Hickey is a descendant, was originally De Bray, of French origin, and was founded by Colonel Richard De Bray, an officer in the French army. He went from England to Ireland and was knighted as Sir Richard de Bray. Mrs. Hickey's father was Wil- liam Bray, born in County Cork, parish of Carrigtohill, and was a blacksmith by trade. He married Mary Standish, daughter of William Standish, of the same county. William Bray was a son of Thomas Bray and his wife, Margaret (Hagerty) Bray.


Daniel Francis Bray Hickey attended the schools of Stamford, and in due course of time entered the high school of that city, from which he was graduated in 1908. Having decided upon the legal profession as the one he desired to take up for his life work, Mr. Hickey entered Yale Law School, and after three years of study graduated in the class of 1911 with his degree of LL. B. The same year he received his appointment to the Fairview county bar, and the following year was appointed clerk of the City Court.


Mr. Hickey became associated with


Nichols Curtis Downs soon after engag- ing in practice. His practice has been of a general nature with a tendency to run into criminal law, having been counsel in important murder trials. He had hardly adjusted himself to the business world when the black cloud of war hung over the European countries and Mr. Hickey, in common with many of our American young men, felt that it was his duty to go and assist insofar as he was able in righting the wrong which was being done.


In August, 1917, Mr. Hickey enlisted in the Air Service, United States army, with the intention of taking flyer's train- ing. Before obtaining his pilot's certifi- cate he was placed by the chief of Air Service in the department of foreign af- fairs of the Air Service in Paris. The work consisted largely of securing, by contract and by diplomatic arrangement, aeroplanes from the French and English governments and of locating fields to be used as aerodromes for the squadrons fly- ing on the front. Not having lost his de- sire for flying, after the Chateau-Thierry offensive, Captain Hickey requested that he be relieved from his present duties so as to get more active service. This was granted with the result that he saw serv- ice on practically all of the French and American fronts. After the armistice, Captain Hickey was again placed in charge of the legal work of the Air Serv- ice for the zone of the advance which was then by an act of Congress under the supervision of the judge advocate's office. The liquidating of the damage claims aris- ing out of the war was a tremendous task for the reason that the law of the country where the claim arose prevailed with the exception of certain limitations passed by Congress and which were often difficult to reconcile with the laws of other coun- tries. This work took Captain Hickey


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into Germany, Belgium, Luxenburg, Switzerland, England, and practically all over France. The knowledge of the laws and customs of these countries will no doubt be beneficial to Mr. Hickey in his chosen profession. Sufficient warrant of Captain Hickey's ability is apparent from the fact that he was soon promoted first lieutenant on the recommendation of Gen- eral Foulois, chief of Air Service, in 1917, and to captain in 1918. He had been rec- ommended for promotion to major when the armistice was signed, and was rec- ommended for the Legion of Honor by the French air service to the French gov- ernment for distinguished service.


After the close of the war, with two years of foreign service, Mr. Hickey re- turned to Stamford and his home and has taken up the thread of his affairs again by forming a partnership for the general practice of law with his former associate, Judge N. C. Downs, under the firm name of Downs & Hickey. His advice on gov- ernmental and international questions is highly regarded. He is held in high es- teem by the legal associations of which he is a member, and with the best years of his life before him it is expected that his career will be one of honor, worthy of emulation by the youth of the day.


Mr. Hickey is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of Stamford, which he has served as counsel; he is also a member and officer of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. His clubs are the Suburban of Stamford, the Graduates of New Haven, and the Army and Navy of New York, as well as the Yale Alumni Association. He is a member and officer of the American Legion, of Connecticut, the American Flying Club of New York, the Navy League of Washington, Officers of the Great War, of Detroit, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Aerial League of America.


On November 2, 1920, Mr. Hickey was elected as representative to serve the town of Stamford in the Connecticut Gen- eral Assembly, and on November 4, 1920, was appointed acting town counsel for the town of Stamford.


MOORE, Charles Edward, Lawyer, Public Official.


The name of Moore has been numer- ously borne in England, Ireland and Scot- land, and there have been many repre- sentatives of this family in distinguished positions in the United Kingdom. Sev- eral of these have occupied seats as mem- bers of Parliament. Members of this family who emigrated to America, and their descendants, have been noted for their enterprise, independence and in- dustry.


Charles Edward Moore, one of the lead- ing lawyers of Stamford, Connecticut, has inherited these above named qualities to a large extent. They have been apparent throughout his legal career, and aided him in attaining his present standing as a member of the Fairfield county bar. Mr. Moore was born June 29, 1884, in Stam- ford, a son of John and Maria (Kelley) Moore.


John Moore, his father, was a native of Strabally, Ireland, where he was born May 1, 1841. He learned the trade of harnessmaker, and soon after his mar- riage came to New York City. In 1868 he located in Stamford, Connecticut, and there established himself in the harness business. He prospered and continued successfully until his death, which oc- curred October 27, 1909. The business has since that time been carried on by his family and is one of the oldest of its kind in Connecticut. Mr. Moore was a thrifty business man, and industrious. He was upright and square in his dealings,


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and very particular about the quality of his work. His business grew to large proportions for a town the size of Stam- ford, and the advent of the automobile naturally decreased it to some extent. Notwithstanding this a very good busi- ness is still carried on. Mr. Moore mar- ried, in Ireland, Maria Kelley. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom were born in this country. They are: I. James H., of Stamford, who married Catherine Kelsey, and is the father of Wallace Moore, who married Alma Quade, and has two children : James and John. 2. John G., first selectman of the town of Stamford. 3. Mary Ellen. 4. Francis J., manager of the harness busi- ness. 5. William Paul, married Anna Burke. 6. Thomas E., married Lucy Pat- terson. 7. Charles Edward, of further mention.


Charles E. Moore attended the public schools of Stamford, and the Stamford High School, graduating in 1903. Having decided upon his profession, he entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated in 1908. The attainment of his degree was not without its obstacles, and to overcome these needed much strength of will and determination. In addition to keeping up with his studies and class, Mr. Moore engaged in consid- erable outside work in order to enable him to put himself through college. From such youths as these we have many of our successful men today. In early life they acquire the courage of their convic- tions, and throughout their business and private life this quality is apparent. The same year, 1908, Mr. Moore was admitted to the bar and he immediately engaged in practice. He has never sought a partner and continues alone. Although it is but a little over a decade since he first opened his office, he has been prominent in many phases of public life, and has taken a


leading part in affairs. He is a staunch Republican and has ably served as a dele- gate to county conventions. Possessed of considerable natural oratorical ability, Mr. Moore has been effective as a speaker in campaigns. Since 1914 he has served as clerk of the City Court of Stamford.


There were many public-spirited citi- zens who contributed their services and abilities to the needs of their country dur- ing the World War. Many men were needed to successfully engineer the sev- eral parts of the great war machine, and much credit is due to these men, especially the four-minute speakers, of which Mr. Moore was one, who by their eloquence moved the people to a realization of their duty. Mr. Moore also served as the Gov- ernment Appeal Agent in connection with the Draft Board. He was active in all of the numerous drives and a member of the executive committee of the Salvation Army Drive.


Mr. Moore is well known in fraternal circles, and is now (1920), exalted ruler of Stamford Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. His term of office has been marked by the largest and most successful Christmas entertainment ever extended to the poor children of the city. This was given under his leadership in


1919, when an entertainment, auto ride, and presents, formed the program of the day, which was conducted in a splendid spirit. In every department of the city's life that he has touched, Mr. Moore has given public-spirited service, and he is highly regarded in his community.


WILLIAMS, William T.,


Garage Proprietor, Truckman.


One of the substantial and leading citi- zens of Saugatuck, Connecticut, William T. Williams, is held in high esteem by his fellowmen. For three generations his


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family have lived in that immediate vi- cinity, and have always been among the useful and upright citizens.


(I) William Williams, grandfather of William T. Williams, died at the great age of eighty-eight years, July 2, 1894, in Darien, Connecticut. He came there from New York while a young man, and was a tanner and currier by trade. This occupation he followed in Bridgeport for many years. Mr. Williams was a very witty man, and was beloved by all his neighbors to whom he was "Uncle Bill." He married Phoebe Brower, in what was then Lewisville, Carmel, New York. Her mother's name was Polly (Lewis) Brower.


(II) George Williams, son of William Williams, was born in Darien, Connecti- cut. He there learned the trade of a car- riage maker, which he followed for many years. He married May Connelley, a native of County Meath, Ireland, and she died in 1896. Their children were: Charles E., of Norwalk; William T., of further mention ; Elizabeth ; George.


(III) William T. Williams, son of George and Mary (Connelley) Williams, was born in Westport, Connecticut, No- vember 26, 1860. He was educated in the public schools. He served his apprentice- ship at the hatter's trade, and followed it about fifteen years, after which he went into the livery business on his own ac- count, and also engaged in the liquor business until the eighteenth amendment was adopted. For a quarter of a century Mr. Williams has done the baggage busi- ness at the Saugatuck Railroad station, and about six years ago he established a garage and sold all his horses but two, and also has an automobile truck. Of an aggressive temperament, Mr. Williams has forged ahead through his own efforts. He is much interested in all that pertains to the public welfare of his community,


and originally was a Democrat in politics, but for the last few years has been a Re- publican. Although always a worker he has never been a seeker for public office.


In 1886 Mr. Williams married Eliza- beth Rice, daughter of Michael Rice, of Westport, and their children are: I. Robert J., a dental surgeon in Hartford, married Augusta Vincent, and has one son, Robert J., Jr. 2. Vincent, who is as- sociated in business with his father. 3. Leo. All three sons were drafted in the World War, but peace was declared be- fore their divisions were to be sent abroad. Leo, the youngest son, served in the United States navy.


FINNEY, W. Stanley,


Lawyer.


The Fairfield county bar and also the general public, especially that portion of it composed of his friends and neighbors of Greenwich, recognize in Mr. Finney one of the leaders of the younger genera- tion of the county's attorneys. As a citi- zen he is highly valued, always manifest- ing a quiet but helpful interest in the pro- motion of all that tends to increase the prosperity and well-being of the com- munity.


The name Finney is derived from Finn, which is the national name of the people of Finland. Everywhere in the American Union it is associated with good and use- ful citizenship, and in some instances with eminence in the various walks of life. The Finney family appears to have come from England before 1639, those making the voyage to the American colonies be- ing a mother accompanied by two sons and a daughter: Robert, married Phoebe Ripley ; John, called "the Pilgrim ;" and Catherine, married Gabriel Fallowell. The mother of the family passed away in Plymouth, April 22, 1650, "aged upwards of eighty years."


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(I) John Finney, "the Pilgrim," re- bell, of Norton. The death of John Fin- ceived grants of land in Plymouth in ney occurred October II, 1787, probably in Kingston, Massachusetts. 1639-40-41; was made freeman in 1644; from 1646 to 1648 served as exciseman; was a member of several juries. In 1670, with his son John, he was made a freeman of Barnstable, and he was at one time a resident of Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1680 joining the company which settled Bristol, Rhode Island. In 1682 he sold his interest in the Mount Hope lands, in Bristol, to his son Jonathan, and after that year there is no record of him until 1702, when he seems to have removed to Swan- sea, Massachusetts. He probably died not long after, as about that time he exe- cuted a deed which he signed with a mark, thus indicating his advanced age or serious illness. He married (first) Christiana, or Christian , who died in Plym- outh, September 9, 1649. He married (second) June 10, 1650, Abigail Coggin, who died May 6, 1653, daughter of Thomas Bishop, and widow of Henry Coggin. He married (third) June 26, 1654, Elizabeth Bailey, who was buried in Bristol, February 9, 1684.


(II) Jeremiah Finney, son of John and Elizabeth (Bailey) Finney, was born Au- gust 15, 1662, in Barnstable, Massachu- setts. He was a shipmaster, and in 1680 was made, with his father, freeman of Bristol. He married, January 7, 1684, Esther Lewis, born in 1664, daughter of Thomas and Mary Lewis, of Bristol. Jeremiah Finney died in that town, Feb- ruary 18, 1748, his wife having passed away April 11, 1743, in the same place.


(III) John (2) Finney, son of Jeremiah and Esther (Lewis) Finney, was born April 13, 1696. He was a cordwainer, or shoemaker. About 1717 he removed to Norton, Massachusetts, where he pur- chased land. About 1766 he migrated to Easton. He married Mary Campbell, daughter of Sylvanus and Mary Camp-




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