USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 4 > Part 21
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Daniel Joseph Mccarthy is a native of this country, having been born in An- sonia, Connecticut, April 28, 1876, but is of Irish descent on both sides of the house, both his parents having been born in Ireland. His paternal grandparents were John and Bridget (Daly) Mc- Carthy, who were born, lived and died in the old country, the former at the vener- able age of ninety years, the latter at seventy-eight. Of their seven children all are deceased with the exception of Jeremiah McCarthy, the father of Mr. McCarthy of this sketch, who was the only one among them to come to Amer- ica. Jeremiah McCarthy's birth occurred April 17, 1847, on his father's farm at Glendower, County Cork, Ireland, and in 1865, at the age of eighteen, he came to this country in search of larger oppor- tunity and freedom. He went to An- sonia, Connecticut, upon arriving in the United States, and has there made his home ever since. He is now living at
Conn-4-10
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No. 38 Fourth street, Ansonia. He has worked as a caster in brass and copper for a great many years in that place. It was in Ansonia, too, that he was mar- ried in 1868 to Catherine Driscoll, also a native of County Cork, Ireland, and a daughter of Daniel Driscoll, who died in his native place at the age of fifty. All of Daniel Driscoll's children came to America and among them should be mentioned Cornelius Driscoll, a prospec- tor and miner of Silver City, Idaho, and Norah Driscoll, who is employed as a nurse and makes her home in Boston. Of the six children born to Jeremiah Mc- Carthy and his wife Daniel Joseph Mc- Carthy was the fourth in point of age, the others being as follows: Bridget, who died at the age of fourteen years; Mary Jane, who lives with her parents in Ansonia ; John, who is engaged in the business of making cigars in Ansonia ; Norah, who resides with her parents; and a child that died in infancy.
Daniel Joseph Mccarthy passed his childhood and early youth in Ansonia, attending for a short time the local schools. His opportunities for school- ing were very meagre, however, as it was necessary that he should lend his hand to the support of the family at an early age. He was, accordingly, but fourteen years old when he left his studies and secured a position as clerk in the drug store of John E. Wingood, with whom he remained for a period of nine years. He was a trusted employee of the Wingood establishment, and had his salary in- creased a number of times, until it was possible for him to save a portion of it for a purpose that he had long in mind. This was that of engaging in business on his own account and by the exercise of strict economy he was able to realize this desire in 1899. In that year he came to Waterbury and started the establishment
known as the McCarthy Pharmacy at No. 434 South Main street. From the outset his enterprise was highly successful and it came to be one of the best known of its kind in the city with a reputation which it well deserved of only dealing in the very best class of goods. For sixteen years Mr. McCarthy conducted this suc- cessful business and then withdrew from that line entirely. For some time past his keen business sense had discerned the wonderful opportunity offered by the real estate of Waterbury to investors. Like all rapidly growing places, the property values were rising and it became obvious to Mr. McCarthy that there was a for- tune to be made in this line. Accord- ingly, in the year 1915, he opened a real estate and insurance office in the Lilley building in Waterbury and is now con- ducting a highly successful business there, with promises of still larger things in the future.
Besides his prominence in the business world, Mr. McCarthy is an active par- ticipant in the general life of the com- munity, a conspicuous figure in the social and club life of the place. He is promi- nent in the Order of the Knights of Co- lumbus and is devoted to an informal sort of intercourse with his fellows. In religion Mr. McCarthy is a Catholic and attends faithfully the Church of the Im- maculate Conception at Waterbury. Mr. McCarthy is not married. He is de- voted to out-door life and is especially fond of the game of tennis, in which he is exceedingly skillful for a man who must devote so much of his time to the tasks of his business.
D'ESOPO, Ferdinand,
Lawyer.
Among the rising young attorneys of Hartford, probably destined to make his
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Ferdinand D'Book
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name widely known throughout the State, stands Ferdinand D'Esopo, a member of one of the first Italian families to locate in this city. Industrious, keen, and shrewd as his progenitors proved themselves to be, the family prospered, and is thorough- ly Americanized, and Hartford owes to the D'Esopos one of its finest business structures, a brick building occupying the entire frontage on Main street, between Gold and Mulberry streets, and running over two hundred feet deep in the heart of the insurance, business and civic center.
Mr. D'Esopo's father, Donato D'- Esopo, who came to this country in the year 1879, was born in Laurenzana, Italy, on March 10, 1837, being the third in a family of four sons. His father was a farmer, and he helped to maintain the large estate at home, doing cheerfully the tasks assigned him on the place. On December 12, 1863, he was married in Italy to Grazia Montani, who was the fourth child in the family of Dominick and Theresa Montani, of Laurenzana in the Province of Potenza, Southern Italy, where she was born on November 15, 1842. After the birth of five of their children, the family came to America, settling at once in Hartford, and being one of only four or five Italian families then resident in this city. This was in August, 1879, and since that time they have identified themselves with this com- munity and contributed a large quota to its welfare, Mr. D'Esopo becoming one of the most prosperous merchants of the place.
Soon after his arrival he established himself in the grocery business on Mor- gan street, continuing therein for some seven or eight years. He then became interested in real estate, and about 1887 established himself in this field, in which he continued until about the year 1903. He then retired from business and en-
joyed the fruits of his industry until his death, October 29, 1913. Within the thirty-four years that he had resided in the United States, he returned to Italy only once, this being in the year 1901, when he revisited his native land accom- panied by his wife and youngest child. Mr. D'Esopo was a regular and devoted attendant of St. Patrick's Roman Cath- olic Church in Hartford until the erec- tion of St. Anthony's Church, to which he transferred his membership and be- came a liberal giver to its maintenance. He was a prominent and influential member of the Madonna de Carmen So- ciety, which was connected with the church. Mrs. D'Esopo was also a most devout and faithful member of this church, identifying herself with the St. Anne Society of the parish. She was a woman of high principles and a most generous disposition, and devoted her- self thoroughly to the interests of her home and family. Her death occurred November 25, 19II, two years before that of her husband to whom she was tenderly devoted. Mr. and Mrs. D'Esopo were the parents of eleven sons, seven of whom were born in Hartford. These were: Dominick; Pasquale M .; Joseph M .; Rocco A .; Salvator, a graduate of the Yale Law School in 1903 ; Ferdinand, of further mention; and Michael A., a graduate of Sheffield Scientific School of Yale, class of 1913.
Ferdinand D'Esopo, the youngest son but one who was born in Hartford, was born May 12, 1883. He received the rudiments of his education in the public schools, and attended the Hartford High School. After his graduation at high school, he determined to enter upon a legal profession, and entered Yale Law School, from which he was subsequently graduated with the usual degree in June, 1907. Mr. D'Esopo was admitted to the
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bar in January of the year following his graduation, and immediately entered up- on the practice of his profession, be- ginning alone. His career has been marked with an unusual success, and he has a large and growing practice. He has a mentality that is bright, shrewd, and keen, and is quick of thought and speech. Possessed in a large degree of a generous temperament, he is forceful, determined, logical, imaginative, and a fluent speaker. In politics Mr. D'Esopo is a staunch Republican, and is possessed of a very large following. In the year 1909 he was elected Councilman from the fifth ward, and served three years in the Council. He was then elected to the Board of Aldermen and served there for two years. He has been clerk of the city ordinance committee, chairman of the charity committee, member of the com- mittee on education, and various other committees. In August, 1916, he was nominated for State Senator by the Re- publicans of the Second District, and at the election in November, 1916, he was defeated together with all of the other Republican candidates, on account of a Democratic landslide in Hartford, al- though he ran way ahead of his ticket. Mr. D'Esopo has always been strongly interested in fraternal matters and is a member of many organizations, in a number of which he holds distinguished rank. He is a member of the Hartford Council of the Knights of Columbus ; and is National vice-president of the Order of Owls, the home nest being in South Bend, Indiana, the Owls having a membership of over 350,000 brothers at this date (1916) and he is a member of the Hartford Nest. He belongs to Court Samuel Colt, Foresters of America; to Ulrich Camp, Modern Woodmen of America; to the Arrowhead Tribe, Im- proved Order of Red Men; to the 1m-
proved Order of Heptasophs; to the B. H. Webb Council, Royal Arcanum; to the Wauwaume Council, No. 1, D. of P .; the Glenwood Council, No. 59, F. B. L .; Robert O. Tyler Post, Citizens' Corps ; the Republican Club, the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Humbert First Society ; Hartford Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; City Club of Hartford and Yale Alumni Association.
On June 11, 1913, Mr. D'Esopo was married to Carmela (Nellie) J. Tremont, daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Gior- gio) Tremont, of Hartford.
SULLIVAN, Cornelius Francis,
Physician.
A member of an old and highly re- spected Irish family, Dr. Cornelius Fran- cis Sullivan, of Waterbury, Connecticut, himself born in this country, well main- tains the best traditions of his race. The well known Irish virtues of enterprise, combined with the qualities which go to make up a successful student, and which, taken together, are so happy a union for the professional man, Dr. Sullivan exem- plifies in his person to an unusual degree. There is another set of traditions main- tained by Dr. Sullivan, those of his pro- fession, which are perhaps not always kept sight of in this modern age of ours with the steadfastness that is desirable, but Dr. Sullivan harks back to an age when these things stood for more than they do to-day. But, although he is of a past age in this matter of professional ethics, he is a man who keeps abreast of the most modern thought in the theory and practice of his science and he has already wrought for himself, despite his youth, the position which these traits entitle him to.
He is a member of an Irish family which took its rise in County Kerry,
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where his grandfather, Cornelius Sulli- van, was a successful farmer toward the middle portion of the nineteenth century. Cornelius Sullivan was the father of a large family, of whom only two are at present alive: Dr. Sullivan's father, Daniel Cornelius Sullivan, and an aunt, Mary Sullivan, a resident of Waterbury.
Daniel Cornelius Sullivan, the father of Dr. Sullivan, was born in the little village of Schran, County Kerry, Ire- land, about the year 1853. He was of an extremely enterprising nature, and while still a young man elected to come to the United States where he believed that a wider range of opportunities awaited him than were to be found under the oppressive social conditions at home. He located at Waterbury, Connecticut, upon his arrival in this country, and still lives in that city, his home being at No. 147 Baldwin street. For twelve years he conducted a most successful wholesale grocery business, but is now living re- tired. He was married to Mary Hurley, who was a native of County Kerry, Ire- land. His marriage to her took place in the month of May, 1877, and they are the parents of six children, as follows : John Leo, a priest in the Catholic church, in charge of a parish in New Bedford, Connecticut ; Timothy S., a successful at- torney of Waterbury, Connecticut; Cor- nelius Francis, of whom further; Cather- ine, who lives at home with her parents; and two children who died in infancy.
Born on December 8, 1887, at Water- bury, Connecticut, Cornelius Francis Sullivan has lived in that city up to the present time and it is now the scene of his very successful professional career. He attended St. Mary's Parochial School until the year 1902, when he went to the Waterbury High School, from which he graduated in the year 1906. He then went to the University of Maryland and
matriculated in the medical department of that institution. He did not remain here, however, during his whole course, but went to Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., where he completed his medical studies, graduating with the class of 1912. His practical experience was gained as an interne at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, he having returned to the north upon the completion of his studies. He attended in this capacity for one year and was then appointed physician at the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium. This institution is situated at Shelton, Connecticut, and it was dis- tinctly an honor to the young interne to receive an appointment of this kind. It was also an excellent thing for him, in- asmuch as it gave him some most valu- able experience and brought him in con- tact with some of the most eminent phy- sicians in this disease. After a year of this work, he went to East Hartford, where he engaged in a general practice and distinguished himself in more ways than one. While there a serious epidemic of smallpox broke out in that place and Dr. Sullivan took charge of the epidemic, putting into force most effective regula- tions and doing much to stem the tide of this dread scourge. He remained at East Hartford until July 1, 1916, when he re- turned to his native Waterbury and opened an office at No. 827 Bank street. The general practice upon which he has embarked in this city has up to the present proven most successful and Dr. Sullivan has already taken his place among the rising physicians of that city.
Dr. Sullivan is a staunch Catholic in religious faith, and attends the Church of St. Patrick in Waterbury, making himself a prominent member thereof and gives liberally to the philanthropic un- dertakings of the parish. He is not a member of many clubs and organiza-
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tions, as his professional duties are of so exacting a nature as to render social activity out of the question. He is, how- ever, a member of the Catholic Society of Knights of Columbus, and does much to advance the interests of this organiza- tion.
TOPPING, Jacob Read, M. D., Physician, Surgeon.
Since 1887 a medical and surgical prac- titioner of Bridgeport, Dr. Topping fills an important place in the professional life of his adopted city, his skill attract- ing those in need of the healer's art, his public spirit and pleasing personality winning the confidence and esteem of all who know him personally or through his work. He is a maternal great-grandson of Captain John Rippey, of the Sixth Company, Eighth Battalion of York county, Pennsylvania, Associators, and with his company served with General Washington, suffering at Valley Forge and triumphing with him at Yorktown. Dr. Topping's father. the Rev. Samuel Topping, was a devoted minister of the Presbyterian church, and to his son transmitted the professional instinct, and as a healer of the body he has brought blessings equal to those his father's ministrations brought to the spirits of men.
Dr. Jacob Read Topping, son of the Rev. Samuel and Cynthia E. (Read) Topping, was born in Seneca, Ontario county, New York, October 24, 1852. He was a student at the seminary, Canan- daigua. New York, and completed his academic education at Upper Canada College, a high class school for boys at Toronto. Deciding upon the medical profession he entered the Medical Col- lege of the University of New York, whence he was graduated with honors
and the degree of Doctor of Medicine, class of 1881. In 1887 Dr. Topping lo- cated in Bridgeport, and in the years that have since intervened has won high rank as a physician and surgeon. He has long been visiting surgeon to Bridgeport Hospital and has performed successfully many delicate and dangerous operations. His practice is large and he is warmly regarded by a wide circle of friends. He is an ex-president of the Bridgeport Med- ical Society, and a member of the Con- necticut State Medical Association. His club is the Algonquin, and in Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.
Dr. Topping married, November 23, 1882, Eliza Haslett, daughter of Henry and Mary Haslett. They are the parents of three daughters, Mary, Louise and Ruth.
LYON, William Henry,
Manufacturer.
To this active and progressive citizen the city of Meriden is greatly indebted for its wonderful development of manu- facturing industries. He is descended from one of the most ancient families of England, founded by Sir Roger de Leonne, born about 1040, in France, who came into England with William the Conqueror. Some years after the con- quest he rendered great service to King Edgar, of Scotland, and received as re- ward lands in Perthshire, where his estate was known as Glen Lyon. His son, Paganus de Leon. or Leonibus, was born about 1080. in England, and was the father of Hugh de Leonibus, born about 1120. He held lands in County Norfolk in 1175, and was living in 1194. His son. Ernald de Leonibus, born about 1150. in Norfolk, claimed one-third of a carucate of land in Kettleston in No-
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vember, 1199. He was the father of John Leon, born about 1175, in Norfolk, owned lands in several counties. His son, Pagan de Leon, born about 1200, in Nor- folk, married Ivette de Ferrers, heiress of William de Ferrers, of Cambridge- shire, and claimed her inheritance in I242. His oldest son was Sir John de Lyonns, born about 1225, held lands in Northamptonshire, and performed mili- tary service to the king. He married Margery, daughter and co-heir of Simon de Ackle, of Ackle, Northampton. John de Lyon, son of Sir John de Lyonns, was a feudal baron in 1316, and one of the lords of the township of Begbrike, was summoned to march against the Scots in 1323, and in 1335 had lands in the coun- ties of Cambridge, Huntington and Ox- ford. His eldest son, Sir Adam Lyon, Knight, of Norfolk, was a feudal baron of Forteviot, had lands in Cambridge and Norfolk. His eldest son, Sir John Lyon, Knight, succeeded to his father's estates in Cambridge, Northampton and Sussex. His youngest son was Henry Lyon, born about 1355, in Norfolk, father of John Lyon, of Ryslippe (Ruislippe), Middle- sex. He was born about 1380, inherited lands of his father, and was living in 1448. His eldest son, Henry Lyon, born about 1410, at Ryslippe, was living in 1479. His eldest son, Henry Lyon, born about 1440, at Ryslippe, owned lands there in 1485, and 1509. His eldest son, John Lyon, born about 1470, at Ryslippe, made his will November 18, 1546. He married Emma Hedde, of Ryslippe. Their youngest son, John Lyon, born about 1510, at Ryslippe, inherited the lands of his mother, and paid the subsidy in 1597. His first wife, Joan, was buried April 5, 1635. His eldest son, William Lyon, born about 1540, resided at Stan- mer, Parva, Middlesex, was described as a gentleman, was living in London in
1596, and was buried at Little Stanmer, September 7, 1624. He married Isabella, daughter of William and Awdry (Deer- ing) Wightman, of "Harrow on the Hill." She was co-heir with her father. Her eldest son, William Lyon, born about 1580, at Stanmer, Parva, lived at Heston in Middlesex, and was buried at Little Stanmer, February 18, 1634. He sold lands in Norwood, in 1634. He married at "Harrow on the Hill," July 17, 1615, Anne Carter. Their youngest son was the earliest of the name in America.
William Lyon, son of William and Anne (Carter) Lyon, was baptized De- cember 23, 1620, in Heston, and was buried at Roxbury, Massachusetts, May 21, 1692. When fourteen years of age he came to America in the ship "Hopewell," which sailed September 11, 1635, and is supposed to have accompanied the fam- ily of Isaac Heath, as his name follows the names of Heath's family in the ship- ping list. Isaac Heath came from Naz- ing, England, whence many of the set- tlers of Roxbury came. William Lyon settled in Roxbury, was a member of Apostle Eliot's Church, admitted to full communion in 1655, a freeman in 1666. In 1645 he was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, in 1648 received a grant of six acres of land, in 1652 three acres, other lands in 1651, 1654 and 1661, and became a large landholder of the town. He was among the "Goers" who planned the settlement of Woodstock, Connecticut, where he was assigned a lot, but did not remove thither. His home in Roxbury was on the east side of Lyon street, now Bellevue avenue, southwest of Atwood street. He married, June 17, 1646, in Roxbury, Sarah Ruggles, born April 19, 1629, in England, daughter of John and Mary (Curtis) Ruggles, of Nazing.
Their second son was Thomas Lyon,
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baptized August 8, 1648, in Roxbury, where he lived, and died 1734. He is described as a yeoman, was excommuni- cated from. Eliot's church, September 26, 1669, but was absolved the next year. He married in Boston, March 10, 1669, Abigail Gould.
Their fourth son, Ephraim Lyon, was born January 14, 1685, in Roxbury, and died before September 27, 1720. He was a blacksmith and farmer, and a prosper- ous man, leaving an estate valued at £505, 17s. and 6d. He married, June 13, 1709, Abigail Crosby, born January 6, 1691, in Billerica, Massachusetts, daughter of Simon and Hannah Crosby.
Humphrey Lyon, son of Ephraim and Abigail (Crosby) Lyon, was born in 1718, and settled in East Haddam, Con- necticut, where he died December 13, 1794. at the age of seventy-six years. He became a member of the Episcopal church of that town on its organization, April 26, 1791, and donated the land on which its house of worship stood. In the record of his death he is called captain, a title derived undoubtedly from service in the militia. He married in East Had- dam, April 25. 1765, Mary Bates, born 1746-47, died March 7, 1814, at the age of sixty-seven years. She joined the Con- gregational church of East Haddam, April 25. 1773.
Their fourth son, Charles Lyon, born January 30, baptized April 21, 1776, in East Haddam, married Lois Grimes. He was an active member of St. Stephen's Church, of which his father was one of the founders.
Humphrey Lyon, son of Charles and Lois (Grimes) Lyon, was born Decem- ber 19, 1797, in East Haddam, and was for forty years one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Meriden, Connecti- cut. He was reared in East Haddam, whence he removed to the State of New
York in 1826, where he lived until 1847, when he removed to Meriden, Connec- ticut, where his son, George W. Lyon, had preceded him. He was actively en- gaged in business in Meriden until the infirmities of age compelled him to re- tire, and he died there April 13, 1887, in his ninetieth year. He was untiring in his efforts to promote the growth and welfare of the municipality, and served as selectman and tax collector. In early life he affiliated with the Democratic party, but upon the organization of the Republican party, in 1856, joined its ranks, because of his abhorance of the wrongs of slavery. A man of strong con- victions and uncompromising opinions, he was ever ready to sustain them with- out bitterness or rancor, and was re- spected for his kindness of heart. He was among the most active supporters of President Lincoln in prosecuting the War against Rebellion. At the time of his death, Mr. Lyon was one of the old- est Free Masons in the State of Connec- ticut, only two having preceded him, one raised in 1812, and another in 1816. He was made a Master Mason in Columbia Lodge, No. 26, of East Haddam, April 8, 1818: was a charter member and wor- shipful master and treasurer of Meriden Lodge, No. 77, of Meriden ; was a char- ter member, in 1854. of Keystone Chap- ter, No. 27. Royal Arch Masons, of which he was high priest in the following year, and for two succeeding years ; a charter member of Hamilton Council. No. 22, Royal and Select Masters, March 10, 1856, and in 1857-58 was thrice potent master. For many years he was treas- urer of the chapter and council, until fail- ing sight compelled him to decline fur- ther election to office. For the last ten years of his life he was totally blind, but was always bright and cheerful and fond of a joke. Free Masonry meant some-
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