USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 3 > Part 8
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are drawn from wellnigh every quarter of the globe, there are few larger and none more important and valuable in propor- tion to its size than that formed by the great Irish population in our midst. There are many of that race conspicuous among the earliest Colonial settlers here, and from that time down to the present a steady tide has set from their oppressed land to this region and comparative free- dom and opportunity. From first to last they have brought with them those vir- tues peculiar to the race and engrafted upon the Anglo-Saxon stock the more brilliant Celtic qualities of ready wit, imagination and a remarkable blend of the keenest practical sense with a vivid appreciation of the most subtle and illu- sive forms of beauty. When that hypo- thetical thing, the future American race, is at least accomplished and rises new and glorious from this great witches' cauldron where it is now brewing, it will owe many of its best qualities to the Irish blood within its veins. A fine example of the best Irish type in this country is Thomas David Faulkner, who is descended from Irish parents, and who is one of the most successful dealers in real estate and in- surance, and a citizen of energy and pub- lic spirit.
Born July 18, 1887, at South Manches- ter, Connecticut, Thomas David Faulk- ner is a son of Samuel J. and Annie (Weir) Faulkner. His father was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and came as a boy to America, locating at South Man- chester, Connecticut, where he found em- ployment in the Cheney Mills. He mar- ried Annie Weir, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Weir, who, like himself, was a native of County Armagh, Ireland. They were the parents of five children, three of whom grew to maturity as follows: Thomas David, with whose career this sketch is principally concerned ; Alice and George.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Thomas David Faulkner received his education in the public schools of his native town of South Manchester, Con- necticut. Although his youthful advan- tages in this direction were somewhat meager, Mr. Faulkner has supplemented them since that time in every way possi- ble, not only by extensive reading in a wide field of subjects, which he has con- ducted independently, but also by means of correspondence instruction which he has carried on with several institutions of this kind. After completing his formal instruction, he entered the furniture store of Ezekiel Benson, of South Manchester, for whom he had already done some work while still at school. The death of his father was the event which rendered it necessary for him to abandon his studies and devote his entire time to the task of earning his livelihood, and it was then that he secured a permanent position in the furniture store. Here he remained for about three years, at the end of which period Mr. Benson's business was closed, and young Mr. Faulkner found it neces- sary to seek employment elsewhere. The three years following were spent as the driver of a laundry wagon in South Man- chester. In the meantime, however, both as a clerk in the furniture store and as driver, Mr. Faulkner had been consist- ently laying by a portion of his earnings, being only enabled to do so by the exer- cise of the most praiseworthy thrift. By this means he had accumulated a small capital which enabled him to start in busi- ness for himself, his initial enterprise being as a dealer in tea and coffee. He continued in this occupation for three years, during which time he met with so considerable a success that he felt justi- fied in adding other lines to them and establishing a regular grocery store at South Manchester. For two years he re- mained in this line of business, and then
began a real estate and insurance agency at South Manchester. In this he was ex- tremely successful, and in 1914 he sold out his business there ; he came to Hart- ford and established in that city his pres- ent business. From that time up to the present he has met with an enviable and well-deserved success, and is now re- garded as one of the rising young busi- ness men of the city. Mr. Faulkner is prominently connected with many clubs and other organizations of a similar nature, and is a member of Charter Oak Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; the Sons of Temperance, the City Club, the Charter Oak Ad Club, and the Young Men's Christian Association. He has always been interested in military matters, and since 1916 has been a mem- ber of the Governor's Foot Guard. He and his wife are members of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, of South Manchester, and are active in the work of the parish, while Mr. Faulkner has been an officer of the Sunday school about twelve years. One of the strongest tastes possessed by Mr. Faulkner is that for the art of music, and he is a musician of no small accom- plishments. For about twelve years he has acted as soloist in the choir of St. Mary's Church.
Mr. Faulkner married, September 16, 1914, Zella Lillian Bunce, a daughter of Charles Edwin and Ina (Chaffee) Bunce, old and well known residents of South Manchester. To Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner two children have been born: Ina Anna. June 15, 1915, and Thomas David. Jr., September 15, 1916. Mrs. Faulkner at- tended the Manchester schools and grad- uated from the South Manchester High School in 1908. She then entered the New Britain Normal School and after graduating, in 1910, taught school for four years.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(The Bunce Line).
The Bunce family, of which Mrs. Faulk- ner was a member, has for long been asso- ciated with industrial and business enter- prise in the State of Connecticut, her father, Charles Edwin Bunce, having been one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Hartford county. He was born August 6, 1851, in his father's house, and continued to live there during his entire life. He secured his education at the local district schools and later at the high schools of Manchester and Hartford. On completing his studies, he returned to his home, where he continued to live during the remainder of his life and where he de- voted himself to farming during a similar period. His farm became one of the larg- est and best cultivated in Hartford county and he was known far and wide as a strong and attractive personality, a
straightforward man in all his business dealings and a true friend. He married, June 8, 1882, Ina Chaffee, a daughter of Peter and Hannah Chaffee, of East Wood- stock, where her father and brothers car- ried on business as wagonmakers. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Myrtis, born April 15, 1883, died July 30, 1883 ; a child, born April 19, 1884, who died in infancy ; Gertrude M., born May 29, 1885 ; Edwin C., born August 15, 1887 : Zella Lillian, born August 5, 1889, who became the wife of Mr. Faulkner; Rena, born February 5, 1891 ; Florence, born September 15, 1893; Louis, born July 19, 1897; Lawrence, born March 10, 1902.
Charles Edwin Bunce's father was Ed- win Bunce, a native of South Manchester, where he received his early education at the local public schools, and then attend- ed Wilbraham Academy. Upon complet- ing his education he began his life's work in a paper mill, his father having been closely identified with the development of this industry in the region, and continued
actively engaged in this business until near the close of his life, when he retired to the farm of his son, Charles Edwin Bunce, where he finally died at the early age of fifty-four years. In the year 1843 he was married to Lucinda Tryon, a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Strick- land) Tryon, of East Glastonbury. Mrs. Bunce died November 20, 1891.
HEALEY, Patrick,
Lawyer.
Born in Waterbury, August 23, 1887, son of John and Catherine (Slavin) Healey, whose other children are: Fran- cis, born July 8, 1897; Catherine, born May 27, 1900; and Helen, born January 24, 1903.
He graduated from Waterbury High School, 1905; Yale College, Bachelor of Arts, 1909; Yale Law School, Bachelor of Laws, 1911; admitted to practice of law in Connecticut, June, 19II.
Married to Kathleen Coughlan, daugh- ter of James and Lucy (Loughlin ) Cough- lan, of Waterbury, September 16, 1913. Two children: Patricia, born June 26, 1914; and Robert, born October 22, 1915.
His father, eldest son of Patrick (died at Waterbury, 1893) and Mary (Breen) Healey (died at Waterbury, 1892), was born in County Kerry, Ireland. 1857, and came to Waterbury in 1859. He is a machinist by trade.
His mother, daughter of John (died at Waterbury, 1902) and Bridget (Bergen) Slavin (died at Waterbury, 1887), was born in Waterbury, 1861.
Religion, Roman Catholic. Politics, Democrat. Societies : Elks' Club, Knights of Columbus, Chi Tau Kappa. Public office : Representative from Waterbury to General Assembly of Connecticut, 1917, wherein he served as a member of the committee on cities and boroughs and as house chairman of the committee on un- finished business.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
COOGAN, John William,
Attorney-at-Law.
One of the oldest practicing lawyers in the city of Hartford, where he has been in continuous practice since 1879, Mr. Coogan has so kept abreast of the times that he was choice of the last mayor of Hartford, Joseph H. Lawler, for corpora- tion counsel, retiring from that office with that official in April, 1916. His public service has been of a high order, extend- ing to legislative halls, while his practice has included some of the most celebrated cases tried at the Hartford bar. He is of the first American born generation of the family, the Coogans being an ancient fam- ily of Ireland, from whence came the grandfather, Daniel Coogan, bringing with him his son, James Coogan, father of John W. Coogan, of this review.
Daniel Coogan, grandfather, was a paper maker by trade, and upon his arrival in this country located at Lee, Massachusetts. His death occurred in the town of Windsor Locks, Connecti- cut, at the great age of ninety-six years. Among the many children of Daniel Coo- gan was James Coogan, born in Ireland. a paper maker by trade, who later became superintendent of a paper mill in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and for many years prior to his death successfully conducted a store. He was active in civic matters and held various town offices, serving as member of the Legislature in 1865 (first Catholic to fill position in Connecticut), and member of Board of Selectmen at Windsor Locks for a number of years. He married Eliza Byrne, a native of Ire- land, who died at Windsor Locks, in 1867, aged forty-nine years. They were the parents of eight children: Edward D; James T. ; Timothy C .; Joseph A .: Eliza- beth, became the wife of James B. Ben- son, of Windsor Locks; John William, of
whom further ; Mary J., a Sister of Mercy known as Sister M. Laurentia; and one child, deceased. The sons of James Coo- gan all became men of prominence in their community ; Dr. Joseph A. Coogan was the only male member of the family who did not sit in the State Legislature as a duly elected member, and he could have borne the same distinction but his pro- fession was to him a higher obligation and he steadily devoted himself to its duties in Hartford and Windsor Locks. Timothy C., an eminent member of the bar, served three times as State senator in Connecticut and later moved to San Francisco. California, where he was equally prominent in the law. As his father in the Lower House of the Legis- lature of the State of Connecticut, so Timothy C. Coogan was the first adherent of the Catholic faith to serve as State Senator in Connecticut.
John William Coogan, fifth son of James and Eliza (Byrne) Coogan, was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, June 3, 1855. After public school courses at Windsor Locks, where his early years were passed, he entered Fordham Univer- sity, New York, where he pursued a full course, terminating with his graduation in the class of 1876 with the degree of A. B. The brother, Timothy C. Coogan, then in successful law practice at Thomp- sonville, admitted him as a law student, and he afterwards entered the law office of Hon. William C. Case at New Haven and while there entered the Yale Law School. In 1878 Fordham University con- ferred on him the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1912 the degree of L. L .. D. In 1879 he was graduated from the Yale Law School with the degree of LL. B. He was at once admitted to the Hartford county bar, and from that time has been continuously in practice in the city of Hartford, transacting a large business in
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
all State and Federal courts of the dis- trict. He has gained an enviable promi- mence in his profession and has ably and successfully conducted some of the most celebrated cases recorded in the annals of the bar with which he is connected. He is a member of the various bar associ- ations, and is highly regarded by his pro- fessional brethren, while the public-at- large regard him with particular favor. His law library is said to be one of the most extensive in the State. Always a student, he has surrounded himself with the best of law authorities, references and histories. Genial and courteous in man- ner, he has a host of friends, his person- ality and his ability combining to produce a strong and lovable character.
Mr. Coogan inherited the family taste for participating in political affairs, and from youthful manhood has borne a lead- ing part in party and city affairs. For two years he was prosecuting attorney for the city of Hartford ; for many years was a grand juror ; was a member of the State Legislature in 1882, serving on the committee of cities and boroughs; was a member of the Board of Street Commis- sioners, 1900-03 and 1903-06, and during the administration of Mayor Lawler was corporation counsel for the city of Hart- ford. A Democrat in his political faith, he has ever been potent in party councils, and was a delegate to innumerable city, county and State conventions. In 1900 he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for presidential elector. He is a past grand knight of Charter Oak Coun- cil. Knights of Columbus; past exalted ruler of Hartford Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and past grand trustee of the National Order. He holds membership in several other organiza- tions, fraternal, social and religious. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, attending the services of St. Jo-
seph's Cathedral, this being the faith of his forefathers.
Mr. Coogan married. December 28, 1898, Susan O. Nolan, born in Albany, New York, daughter of Murtha T. Nolan, an old resident of that city. Children, born in Hartford, Connecticut : John Wil- liam, born October 23, 1899, and Murtha T., born February 28, 1902.
KING, Joseph Harrington,
Financier.
Joseph Harrington King, president of the American Industrial Bank and Trust Company, has attained his position in the financial world entirely as a result of his own industry and well directed efforts. He has been advanced step by step in recognition of service well performed and his mastery of the details of the banking business. He is one of Connecticut's na- tive sons, having been born in East Hart- ford, July 28, 1855. His father was George Walter King, a well known business man of Hartford ; and his mother, before her marriage, was Julia Burnham.
Mr. King's paternal grandfather, Walter King, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland. born September 11, 1780. In early man- hood he served as aide to Sir John Moore, in the British army, and later resided in Lancashire. He came to the United States from there in 1818. He remained here for a short time, then returned to England, but came back again to the United States in 1822. After being for a brief period in New York City, he removed to Paterson, but died in New York City in 1863. Mr. King was married three times. His first wife was a young widow, Mrs. Ann ( Hes- keth) McCandlish, whom he married in 1807. She died in 1819 or 1820.
Their son, George W. King, was born in Lancashire, England. February 16, 1817. He was educated in the public
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
schools of Paterson and New York, and then acquired the trade of jeweler with Wilmot, Moffit & Curtis. After this he passed some time in Virginia, and then came to East Hartford, Connecticut, where he found employment with W. & O. Pitkin, silversmiths. After a time he started in business for himself on State street, Hartford, and continued success- fully until his death in 1881. He married Julia Burnham, daughter of George and Nabby (Hills) Burnham, and they had the following children: Mary Jane, de- ceased ; James Walter, of East Hartford ; Alice C. Burnham, deceased; Emma Louisa, married John N. Bidwell, of East Hartford; George Burnham, deceased ; Joseph Harrington, of further mention ; Annie Kate, of East Hartford; and Ed- ward Everett, of East Hartford. The mother of these children passed away in 1893, at the age of seventy-three years.
Joseph Harrington King, the sixth child in this family, was graduated from the Hartford High School in 1873, after which he became a clerk in the American Na- tional Bank. He soon gave evidence of possessing those qualities that mark the successful banker, dependability, indus- try, intelligent initiative, diplomacy and courtesy. He was advanced rapidly, and in 1883 became cashier, Mr. John G. Root resigning, and he was at that time the youngest bank officer in Hartford. Upon the death of Mr. Rowland Swift, the first president, he was elected president of the bank, holding that position when it was consolidated with the Phoenix National Bank, in May, 1912. Mr. King soon set about organizing the new institution of which he is now the executive head, the American Industrial Bank and Trust Company, being elected its president, September 1, 1913.
He is a man of strong character, pro-
gressive without being visionary; and cautious, but having the courage of his convictions when his mature judgment approves a given course of action. He takes a very keen interest in those move- ments and measures that promise to en- hance the general welfare; and is a direc- tor of the Hartford Morris Plan Com- pany, an institution which is doing a splendid work among those worthy citi- zens who find themselves temporarily em- barassed in financial matters, and not so circumstanced that they can be helped by regular banks. Mr. King is also presi- dent of the Allen Manufacturing Com- pany, of Hartford : vice-president of the Henry & Wright Manufacturing Com- pany ; and a director in the Austin Organ Company.
On the 8th of October, 1878, Mr. King was married to Mary E. Loomis, daugh- ter of Walter A. Loomis, of East Hart- ford. Mrs .. King's father, Walter Adams Loomis, was born May 24. 1823, in East Hartford, and was married, October 8, 1845. to Margaret E. Clark. Mrs. King is the ninth generation by direct descent from Joseph Loomis, a woolen draper of Braintree, Essex county, England. He was born about the year 1530, and sailed from London in the ship "Susan and Ellen," April 11, 1638, arriving in Boston July 17th of the same year. He came to Windsor, Connecticut, with five sons and three daughters, in 1639, and became the owner of several tracts of land. His home was situated at the mouth of the Farm- ington river, or thereabouts. He died November 25, 1658. and his wife died August 23, 1652. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. King are the parents of three children : Edwin Loomis, born August 18, 1880; George Walter, born February 8, 1886; and Lester Hazen, born March 11, 1887.
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THE NEW YORK PUR CHIDFARY
.ILDEN :. EN.
ugeme Hace,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
HALL, Eugene Ashley,
Banker, Merchant.
The subject of this biography inherits from many generations of sturdy New England ancestry the sound mind, body and principles necessary to usefulness in the world. The name is one of the oldest in America, and was established at sev- eral points in New England at almost simultaneous dates.
John Hall (styled, "Ist., of Walling- ford") lived with his family in New Haven about thirty years, and in Walling- ford about six or seven. He came from England to Boston, 1633, thence to Hart- ford, where he received a grant of land from the town, which he forfeited by re- moval. He served in the Pequot war in 1637. In 1639 he was one of the free- planters of New Haven and signed "The foundamentall agreement." In 1670, with three of his sons, John, Samuel and Ser- geant Thomas, he joined the company that settled Wallingford, becoming one of the original proprietors and was a signer of the original "Covernant" as were two of his sons. He was born in England, in 1605, and died at Wallingford, in 1676. Dr. Lyman Hall, Governor of Georgia and signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, was a descendant of this John Hall. In 1641 he married Jeanne Wollen, who died November 14, 1690. Their fifth son was Thomas Hall, born March 25, 1649, in New Haven, and lived in Wall- ingford, Connecticut, where he died Sep- tember 17, 1731. His marriage, June 5, 1673, to Grace Watson, was the first cel- ebrated in Wallingford. She was born 1653, a daughter of Edward and Grace (Walker) Watson, and died May 1, 1731. Their third son was Joseph Hall, born July 8, 1681, died November 3, 1748. He married, November 13, 1706, Bertha Ter- rell, who died December 28, 1753. They were the parents of Ephraim Hall, who
was born April 25, 1723, and made his home in the section of Wallingford known as North Farms, his house standing on the east side of the road in the present meadow, and the well on his farm is still in use. He married, October 13, 1763, Chloe Moss, born December 6, 1739. daughter of David and Mindwell (Doolit- tle) Moss. They were the parents of Comfort Hall, who was born February 25, 1773, and lived in Wallingford until about 1797, when he removed to the town of Middletown, in the Westfield section, and purchased a large tract of land, on which he resided until his death. He was one of the early Methodists of the sec- tion, and one of the original trustees of the Methodist church at Middlefield, Con- necticut, an earnest, zealous and devoted Christian, his home always open for the entertainment of Methodist preachers. Like most men of his time. he was a Dem- ocrat in political principle. He died No- vember 20, 1855. in Westfield. He mar- ried, February 1, 1796, Jemima Bacon, born February 2, 1775, daughter of Phineas and Sarah (Atkins) Bacon, and died February 24, 1847. Their second son was Harley Hall, born March 21, 1799, in Westfield, and lived in Middle- field, where he died April 24, 1874, at the age of seventy-five years. He married, June 8, 1828, Martha Cone Hall, born April 3, 1805, in East Haddam, Connec- ticut, died in Meriden, April 20. 1880. She was a daughter of William Hall, a direct descendant of John Hall, "of Middle- town," born in county of Kent, England, 1584, came to Boston, 1633, Hartford, 1635, original proprietor of Middletown, 1650. Her mother, Martha (Cone) Hall, was a daughter of Sylvanus Cone, of East Haddam, a Revolutionary soldier, and a direct descendant of Daniel Cone, who was an original proprietor of Haddam in 1662.
Rufus Hall, second son of Harley and
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Martha Cone (Hall) Hall, was born Oc- tober 3, 1839, in Middlefield, and grew up on the paternal homestead. assisting from a very early age in the labors of the farm. He acquired habits of industry and thrift, and received from his parents a high moral training. His education was supplied by the district schools, and at the early age of nineteen years he set out to make himself independent in the world. For some years he dealt in meats in Port- land, Middlefield and Wallingford, and in 1860 moved to Meriden, Connecticut, where he continued to be one of the most active citizens during his life. In 1861, in association with his brother, the late Norman C. Hall, he engaged in the gro- cery business, the name of the firm being Norman C. Hall & Company. After nine years he sold out his interest to his brother, and in association with Charles Grether established a meat market under the name of Grether & Hall. After a few years, Mr. Hall became sole proprietor of the business, which he conducted several years, after which he sold it to his former partner, and engaged in the grocery busi- ness with his brother. In 1884 he again engaged in the meat business, and the establishment which he then founded is still conducted by his son, the business being incorporated under the name of The Hall's Market Company in 1909. Mr. Hall continued to conduct this establish- ment until his death, from pneumonia, February 3, 1901. His body was laid to rest in Indian Hill Cemetery, Middle- town. Mr. Hall did not aspire to partici- pate in political affairs, but was ever a model citizen. industrious and straight- forward in business methods.
He married, at Middletown, April 25, 1859, Esther Asenath Grover, a direct descendant of Thomas Grover, of Charles- town, Massachusetts, 1642; she was born in Middletown, January 2. 1837, died in
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