USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 4 > Part 12
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could devote his whole time to them. Some of the best builders in the com- munity, such as Robert Porteus and Richard F. Jones, both of Hartford, gave him their plumbing contracts and many of the largest and handsomest buildings in that city have had their plumbing and heating systems installed by him, such as the Hotel Garde and the Hartford Club building. It was not by any means only in his business that Mr. Weidig played a prominent part in the life of his adopted community. He was genuinely interested in the welfare of the whole place and bent every energy to advance it. He was a member of several organi- zations of importance in Hartford, espe- cially military organizations such as the Putnam Phalanx and the Hartford Rifle Club, being highly interested in military matters generally.
Mr. Weidig was united in marriage with Lina Deublein at Unionville on June 17, 1884, only a short time after his arrival in this country from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Weidig's courtship and marriage were romantic and may be said to have begun in the Fatherland. They were both natives of Bavaria and while the little town of Hofen, where Mrs. Weidig was born and reared to young girlhood, was at some little distance from Eldman, the two young people had met. Their acquaintance was renewed upon the ocean, both of them taking passage to America upon the same steamer, and progressed rapidly there and in this country after they arrived here. They made two trips to the "Old Country." the first in 1894. after ten years in this country, and the second when they were married twenty-five years, having been twenty-five years in this country and each fifty years old. They revisited their former homes and renewed old acquaint-
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ances. While there they celebrated their silver wedding surrounded by the friends of their youth. They afterwards spent four months travelling in various parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
It was the greatest pride of Mr. Weidig to maintain the highest standard of honor and probity in all his dealings, business or otherwise, and he lived up to his ideal with unusual consistency. He was a very fine type of citizen and the loss to the community occasioned by his death was a very real one. He combined in very happy proportions the qualities of the practical business man with those of the public-spirited altruist, whose thoughts are always for the good of the community. It was by his own efforts that he rose from the humble position in which he began work in this country to that of one of the city's successful busi- ness men, and through all that long and worthy career he never conducted his business so that it was anything but a benefit to all his associates and to the city-at-large. He was frank and out- spoken, a man whose integrity was never called in question, who could be and was trusted to keep the spirit as well as the letter of his contracts and engagements. He was possessed of true democratic in- stincts, and as ready to lend his ear to the humblest as to the proudest and most influential. These qualities gave him a host of friends and admirers from every rank and class in society. The depth of Mr. Weidig's devotion to the Fatherland and to his fellow countrymen is shown by the fact that at the time of his death he was laying his plans to devote the whole of this year's income from his business to the alleviation of the suffering caused in Germany by the great war. They were the parents of three children: Herman Lorence, died aged nine months; Andrew Robert, died aged
three months; and a daughter died at birth. They adopted a son at four years of age, Raymond Dwight Allen, educated him and gave him their name. He is now married and has three children.
BERGIN, Martin,
Business Man.
The Bergin family, which was worthily represented in the towns of Waterbury and Southington, Connecticut, by the late Martin Bergin, a successful business man, had its origin in Queens County, Ireland, the ancestors of Mr. Bergin hav- ing lived there for many generations and were actively identified with the affairs of the region.
The first of the line here under con- sideration of whom we have definite in- formation was Thomas Francis Bergin, a native of Queens County, Ireland, who lived and died there, following the occu- " pation of farming for many years. He was highly respected in the community, an industrious, thrifty man, who per- formed well the obligations of life. He married Anna McDonald, also a native of Ireland, and they were the parents of fourteen children, all of whom are now deceased.
Martin Bergin, son of Thomas Francis and Anna (McDonald) Bergin, was born on the family homestead in Queens County, Ireland, in September, 1845. He was a man of considerable enterprise and originality, and he continued to reside in his native region in spite of the oppres- sive social regime until he had attained his eighteenth year. Then following the example of his fellow countrymen, he emigrated to the United States, accom- panied by his sister, Mary Bergin, and their first place of residence was Water- bury, Connecticut. During his residence in Ireland he received an excellent edu-
ConD-4-6
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cation in a private school in Dublin, from which he received a diploma and certifi- cate of graduation, and thus splendidly equipped he was ready to engage in an active career in his new home. He secured employment in the Waterbury Buckle Company, with which concern he was connected for upwards of six years, during which period of time he advanced rapidly to an excellent position, wherein he was enabled to not only support his sister and himself but to lay aside capital for the project in his mind of engaging in business on his own account. This project was realized in 1869, the year of his resignation from the Waterbury Buckle Company, and for this purpose he went to the neighboring town of South- ington, where, after a preliminary survey of conditions, he established a small stationery store, in the conduct of which he was highly successful, continuing its proprietor until 1882, a period of thirteen years. He then purchased the undertak- ing business of Maher Brothers, of Waterbury, the Messrs. Maher being his brothers-in-law, and in the conduct of this business he was also highly success- ful, continuing the same until his death which occurred in Waterbury. Mr. Ber- gin was a man of high ideals to which he adhered with an unusual degree of faithfulness in the conduct of his life and which might well be pointed out as a model of good citizenship. His success was of that quiet kind that integrity and just dealing with one's fellowmen is sure to bring when coupled with ability such as he possessed, a success of the per- manent kind which the years increase and render more secure because it rests upon the firm foundation of the trust and confidence of the community.
Mr. Bergin married, in 1869, during the first year of his residence in Southing- ton, Elizabeth Maher, a resident of that town, born in Queens County, Ireland, in
1845, the same year as her husband. The Maher family is an old one in Queens County, Ireland, Patrick Mayer, the father of Mrs. Bergin, having been born there in 1800. Mr. Mayer came to the United States, accompanied by his family, and eventually died in Waterbury, Con- necticut, aged ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. Bergin were the parents of eleven chil- dren, all but one of whom, Sarah, are now living. Children: 1. Thomas Fran- cis, of whom further. 2. Patrick S., of whom further. 3. Anna, wife of Harry Jones, of Washington, D. C., and they are the parents of two daughters. 4. Sarah, died in 1898. 5. Margaret. 6. Frances Mary. 7. John, a lieutenant in the Waterbury police force. 8. Elizabeth, teacher in the Waterbury public schools. 9. Jane, employed as a stenog- rapher in Waterbury. 10. Martin, a member of the Waterbury police force. II. Daniel M., of whom further. All of these children with the exception of Mrs. Jones reside in Waterbury.
Thomas Francis Bergin was born in Southington, Connecticut, September 19, 1871. He attended the public schools of Southington and Waterbury, his parents removing to the latter named place when he was eleven years of age. He com- pleted his studies in the year 1888, and was then taken into the undertaking business conducted by his father and from that time until the present (1916) has remained associated with it. After the death of Martin Bergin the business was continued and in 1912 it was incor- porated under the name of Martin Ber- gin's Sons, with Patrick S. Bergin as president and Thomas Francis Bergin as secretary and treasurer. The business has steadily grown in size and impor- tance under the able management of the young men and is now the largest of its kind in Waterbury. Mr. Bergin attends the Church of the Immaculate Concep-
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tion in Waterbury, active in the work of the parish, and holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in other important societies and organizations. Mr. Bergin married, Feb- ruary 9, 1899, Annie Sullivan, of Water- bury, born there' in July, 1869, a daugh- ter of Eugene and Mary (Allman) Sul- livan, and they are the parents of one son, Martin Francis, born December 6, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were natives of Ireland; they came to the United States many years ago, Mr. Sullivan en- gaging in the grocery business in Waterbury, Connecticut, which he con- ducted successfully for a long period and until his death in 1885. He was survived by his wife until 1898, in which year her death also occurred in Waterbury.
Patrick S. Bergin was born in South- ington, Connecticut, in 1873. He attended the public schools of Southington and Waterbury, and upon arriving at a suit- able age was admitted to the business conducted by his father, as heretofore mentioned, and is now serving in the capacity of president of the firm of Mar- tin Bergin's Sons. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of St. Joseph's Society. He is a Catholic in religion. He married, in 1907, Margaret Mitchell, and they are the parents of two sons, Stephen and Edward.
Daniel M. Bergin was born in Water- bury, Conecticut, in 1894. He attended the public schools of his native city, graduating from the high school in 1914, and then attended the Holy Cross Col- lege in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he completed his studies. In 1916 he be- came connected with the firm of Martin Bergin's Sons, and judging from the work done by him so far his future is bright with promise and he bids fair to occupy as prominent a position in the business as his brothers.
MORIARTY, John,
Merchant, Public Benefactor.
The struggles of worth and strong character in their progress from an ob- scure origin to the summit of the ladder of success, though it be common enough in this age and country of enterprise, is nevertheless a matter of perennial inter- est to us all and each new example with its new conditions and circumstances never fails to reawaken our sympathy and our wonder concerning the vital forces and traits of character that find it pos- sible to succeed where others fail and, triumphing over all manner of obstacles, win from a none too willing world for- tune and recognition. Even more is this of interest when the hero of the story is still further handicapped by being of foreign birth and parentage, so that his task is the harder and his final success the more meritorious. Such is the case in the career of John Moriarty, the suc- cessful real estate owner and business man of Waterbury, Connecticut, whose success, despite a foreign birth, has been phenomenal in the land of his adoption. By blood an Irishman, by birth an Eng- lishman, by fortune and by choice an American, Mr. Moriarty has associations with many lands, but none so definite and so potent as those that he has gained dur- ing the course of his career in this coun- try, where he has more closely identified himself with the interests and ideals of the community.
The parents of John Moriarty, Eugene and Elizabeth (O'Connor) Moriarty, were natives of Ireland, where they spent the greater part of their early life, re- maining there until after their marriage. They removed to Cornwall, England, where Mr. Moriarty was to take charge of an estate. Later they returned to Ireland and resided in County Kerry, and
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in 1858 emigrated to the United States, accompanied by their children. The family remained in New York City for ten years, Eugene Moriarty securing a position as weigh master in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he remained eight years. He was a man of unusual educa- tion and culture, a man with whom edu- cation was regarded as highly necessary in life, and he had decided during the last few years of his employment in the Navy Yard to found a school of his own. He did not consider the city the best place to do this, however, and according- ly removed to Waterbury, Connecticut, where he realized his desire. This was in the year 1866 and for four years he successfully conducted his institution, but at the expiration of that period of time came to an untimely death, being killed in a railroad accident. His wife survived him ten years, her death occur- ring in Naugatuck, in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Moriarty were the parents of nine chil- dren, and this large family have remained wonderfully united, considering its size and the great portion of the earth's sur- face they have traveled over. They are now, with the exception of two who are deceased, all residents of the United States, and for that matter of the State of Connecticut and of a small district thereof. They were as follows: Mar- garet, now Mrs. John M. Mulville, of Waterbury ; Ellen, now Mrs. Matthew T. Boylan, of Naugatuck, Connecticut ; Bessie, now Mrs. Martin D. Dodge, also of Naugatuck ; Mary Julia, deceased, was the wife of Patrick F. Murphy, of Oak- ville, Connecticut; John, of whom fur- ther ; Eugene, deceased ; Edward, a resi- dent of Naugatuck; Ambrose, a resident of Waterbury ; and
John Moriarty was born in Cornwall, England, where his parents resided until he was seven years of age, then re-
turned to Ireland, and when he was eight years of age came to the United States, and he attended the schools of New York City. He began his business career in the humble capacity of a hand in the Waterbury Button Company, with which concern he remained for about one year. He did not find the work congenial, and he turned his attention therefore to learn- ing a trade. The one chosen by him was that of stone cutter and this he mastered, becoming so expert that he never found it difficult to obtain a position. He worked at this trade for ten years, and by the exercise of prudence and economy he managed to lay aside a considerable portion of his earnings, it being his am- bition to engage in business on his own account. In 1877 he became the proprie- tor of the City Hotel, a successful hos- telry on South Main street, Waterbury, and a little later he added a grocery establishment and conducted these two entirely different enterprises with equal success. Observing conditions very care- fully it appeared to Mr. Moriarty that there was a great opportunity for a de- partment store in Waterbury, and in 1883 he established the Waterbury Furniture Company, which he successfully con- ducted until 1901, when he disposed of the same by sale, having also disposed of his hotel and grocery establishment prior to engaging in the new enterprise, which was the largest in Western Connecticut. In the meantime, in 1893. he purchased the American Pin Company plant on East Main street, Nos. 123-171, which he is conducting at the present time (1916), and moved the department store there, and in 1911 purchased the property of the Blake & Johnson Company, at the same location, and turned it into a mercantile establishment which now comprises fifteen stores, a large number of offices. society halls, apartments, the Poli Theatre, etc ..
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the property consisting of about one hun- dred thousand square feet. He also founded the Waterbury Storage Company, which has at this time about five hundred rooms and is still a growing business, which has proved a successful undertaking, and this, together with his other interests, is en- gaging his attention at the present time. With hirn are associated in its manage- ment three of his sons, Joseph C., vice- president ; William C., secretary, and John C., assistant secretary, while Mr. Moriarty holds the double office of presi- dent and treasurer. William C. and John C. Moriarty, the sons, are attorneys-at- law and engaged in active practice in Waterbury. The above named concern, which was incorporated in 1915 under the name of John Moriarty, Inc., has reached its present great proportions exclusively as the result of Mr. Moriarty's foresight and great talent for affairs, and as these same qualities are still enlisted in its serv- ice its still further development may be confidently predicted.
The prominent place occupied by Mr. Moriarty in the community is in no wise suggested by a mere enumeration of his business successes, nor is its debt to him measured by the stimulus given to its busi- ness byhis activities. On every side are evi- dences of his great liberality and public spirit, and few are the movements under- taken for the common weal with which he is not identified. One of the most con- spicuous, as well as one of the most valu- able, things that he has done for Water- bury was the erection of Poli Theatre, which has been an endless occasion of pleasure and profit to his fellow citizens. Upon its stage have appeared at different times many famous actors among which have been such great artists as Sarah Bernhardt, Richard Mansfield and Sir Henry Irving. It was the first playhouse of any size or importance in Western
Connecticut and it has proved a public benefaction. There is one department of the public life of the community in which, up to the present, Mr. Moriarty has played no very active part, and that is politics. He is profoundly interested in general political issues, and is a strong supporter of the principles and policies of the Demo- cratic party, but largely from lack of time and opportunity he has not participated in the conduct of local affairs to the extent warranted by his talents. He is, however, very active in almost every other depart- ment of the city's life and is everywhere a well known and conspicuous figure. He is an Irish Catholic, and attends St. Mar- garet's Church in Waterbury with his family, and liberally supports its various charitable works in the city. In the mat- ter of charities generally Mr. Moriarty is very active, his private benefactions being large and his connection with organized philanthropy prominent. In the latter connection he is a member of the Associ- ated Charities of Waterbury and a mem- ber of its board of directors. Mr. Mori- arty is also active in social circles, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Moriarty married, October 5, 1876, Mary Elizabeth Collins, a native of Water- bury, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Dunn) Collins, both deceased. Mr. Col- lins was an honored citizen of Waterbury for above sixty years and closely identified with its affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Moriarty are the parents of eight children, as fol- lows: 1. Mary Collins, born in Richmond, Virginia ; educated in public schools of Waterbury and the Notre Dame College in the same city; became the wife of Peter A. Leman ; died when she was only twenty-eight years of age. 2. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 3. Joseph C., educated in public schools and a business college in Waterbury ; vice-president of John Mori-
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arty, Inc .; married Pearl Helenbeck, of Waterbury. and they have one child, John 11. 4. Cecelia, educated in public schools of Waterbury and a graduate of Notre Dame Convent; became the wife of J. Ilarry Moran, of Waterbury. 5. William Collins, educated in public schools of Waterbury and under the private tutelage of Professor Gulliver and others; gradu- ate of the Georgetown Law School and is now engaged in active practice ; he is the secretary of John Moriarity, Inc. ; married Mabel Foulke, of Washington, D. C. 6. Lucy, died in infancy. 7. John Collins, educated in public schools of Waterbury, graduated from the high school, the Georgetown University in Washington, D. C., and the Yale Law School, and is now practicing his profession in Water- bury ; he is the assistant secretary of John Moriarty, Inc. 8. Irene, graduated from the high school of Waterbury and Trin- ity College. Washington, D. C; she is now a teacher in the Waterbury High School.
PEPE, Frank,
Business Man.
Bright indeed appears the future of the United States and the great race that is forming here out of the multitudinous ele- ments that the "Old World" has, and is still contributing. Bright in view of our modern knowledge and the experience we have of the sons of other races who, com- ing here to seek their own safety or for- tunes, have turned their activities to the ad- vantage of the country of their adoption. There was a time when it was the prevail- ing opinion that the freer the national stock remained from mixture with other races the better it would be for the people as a whole, but this notion has been quite exploded by the force of recently acquired knowledge, especially knowledge of the
historical fact that those peoples who have had their origins in a mixture of many races have uniformly been of a more vigorous type than those less broadly de- scended, and have, as a rule, been the dominant factors in the development of history. One of the chief factors in the modern change of view on this point is doubtless the growing acquaintance which our modern means of transportation and communication have made it possible for one nation to gain with its fellow nations, since acquaintance means understanding. and understanding love and the breaking down of prejudices. Assuredly, in view of our experience with the races which have come to these shores and contributed to our citizenship, it would be difficult to point to any one of them that had not brought us advantage and added to what we like to regard as our national virtues. And one of those to which we can turn with the greatest gratitude for what its sons have brought us is the Italian race, with its consistently cheerful disposition, its love of the beautiful and its intensely practical grasp of affairs. From the first and second of these qualities we may fairly hope to find a much-to-be-desired lightening of the greater austerity of our northern traits, while from the last we may equally reasonably expect to learn how properly to account for every last element in our national wealth, many of which we are at present only too apt to waste. Such, for example. is the case with our farming methods, in which we have been grossly careless and in which we are learning so much from Italian providence and skill. If we would seek for instances where individuals of this great race have proven how successful their talents and abilities could make them when exerted in an environment of freedom such as they meet with here, we have not far to go. On all sides may we see them, if we will but
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use our eyes, prospering most .where the struggle for existence is keenest. None better could be found than that of Frank Pepe, the successful merchant and busi- ness man of Waterbury, Connecticut, who, although coming to this country as a mere lad, has, while still a young man, made himself an enviable place in the regard of the community.
Born in the town of Scafati, Italy, Octo- ber 9, 1873, he remained there in the land of his ancestors until he had reached his thirteenth year. He was a son of Donato and Rachela (Russo) Pepe, the former of Scafati, the latter a native of Sagilio, Italy. The father remained all his life in Italy and finally died there, but the mother came to this country with her children and died at Waterbury, March 5, 1910. They were the parents of seventeen chil- dren of whom nine are now living, four of them in Waterbury, the three besides our subject being: James, a successful farmer ; Joseph, a sketch of whom follows in this work; and Raphaela, now the wife of Basilio Nastri, of Waterbury.
The somewhat slender schooling that Mr. Pepe received in his boyhood, a schooling for the slightness of which he has more than made up by his taste for knowledge and his determination to ac- quaint himself with all worthy things, was obtained during the brief thirteen years of his life spent in Italy. Upon com- ing to the United States in 1886, he found it necessary to devote his entire time and attention to that first of problems, the making of a living. He settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and there remained for a number of years, finding at first a position in one of the great industrial mills in that neighborhood, and later working in the establishment which an elder brother, Antonio, had founded in that city. Antonio's business was in gro- ceries, and he had succeeded in starting
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