USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 4 > Part 8
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Patrick (2) Fitzsimons was also a farmer of County Cavan, and like his father there lived and died. He had a good farm in the county and there his fourteen children were born. His wife, Mary (Daly) Fitzsimons, was born in Virginia and there died. Of those four- teen children. Peter, Mary, Rose, Bridget, Thomas and Margaret are deceased, three others, all named Patrick dying in infancy. The living (1916) are Rev. William Fitz- simons, of St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic), New London, Connecticut ; John, of Wallingford, Connecticut; Pat- rick, of Bridgeport, Connecticut ; James, who resides on the old homestead farm in Ireland; and Luke, the last named, being the second eldest in point of years.
Luke Fitzsimons, son of Patrick (2) and Mary (Daly) Fitzsimons, was born in Virginia, County Cavan, Ireland, and there resided until he was sixteen years of age. He then came to the United States, unaccompanied by any of his fam- ily. He was brought under strong spiritu- al influences and thoroughly educated for the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church. lle was graduated from Holy Cross College in 1873, studied divinity at
the Seminary of St. Joseph at Troy, New York, and was ordained, June 10, 1876. His first clerical post was Sacred Heart Church, New Haven, as assistant to the pastor; his second was St. Patrick's Church, Collinsville ; after which he was pastor of the limmaculate Conception par- ish, New Hartford, Connecticut, 1881- 1900. Here he built a school, convent and parish house. Afterwards he was ap- pointed pastor of the parish of St. Ber- nard, Rockville, Connecticut. There he caused a new church to be erected and in 1910 left the parish free from debt and in a flourishing condition, spiritual and tem- poral. Since 1910 Father Fitzsimons has been the beloved pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury, Connecticut. His labors have been great- iy blessed in these various fields of labor, and in force, dignity, learning and address is the ideal servant of the church.
TOPPING, Thomas Hardy, Business Man.
Four sons of Thomas and Mary (Robin- son) Topping, of England, came to the United States. James R. Topping, who died April 25, 1913; Thomas Hardy Top- ping, now conducting the largest and best equipped pattern and model making plants in Connecticut : John R. Topping, a pat- tern maker of North Tonawanda, New York; William W. Topping, a pattern maker of Stamford, Connecticut. Thomas Topping, the father, descended from an ancestry of soldiers and sailors, and skilled mechanics, qualities which have reap- reared in his sons along mechanical lines as attested by the ability shown by those who have wrought in the trades in this country. One of the Toppings lost his life at Waterloo under Lord Wellington ; another was killed at the naval battle of Trafalgar under Lord Nelson. Nancy
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Hardy, Thomas Hardy Topping's mater- nal grandmother, lost two brothers in the ill fated Sir John Franklin Arctic ex- peditions, one in the first expedition sent to search for Franklin and the other in the second expedition sent in search of the first relief party.
Thomas Topping was born in Lanca- shire, England, and there learned the trade of flax dresser. He followed his voca- tion in England and in France, residing at Boulogne, in the latter country, there re- maining until the Crimean War cut off the supply of raw material from Russia, causing the substitution of cotton. He then returned to England, located in Hull, where he engaged in the dry goods busi- ness until his death. He married Mary Robinson, born in Yorkshire, died in Hull, England, the mother of nine children, four of whom, as named, came to the United States.
Thomas Hardy Topping, son of Thom- as and Mary (Robinson) Topping, was born in Hertfordshire, England (from whence came so many Connecticut set- tlers), April 30, 1850, his birthplace with- in a few miles of the famous Rye House. He learned the trade of pattern maker in England, and after completing his appren- ticeship followed his trade there until 1879. then came to the United States, and for about six years worked in New York City. He spent a brief period in Middle- town, Connecticut, then located in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he was in the busi- ness for twelve years. In 1905 he located in Hartford, Connecticut, forming a part- nership with his brother who had for sev- eral years conducted a pattern making business in Hartford. The years have brought success to Mr. Topping, his plant employing about thirty men, being one of the best equipped for pattern and model making of any in the State. His cus- tomers are the foundry men of the State
and their patronage is not to be diverted from the Topping plant. Mr. Topping is a prominent Mason, belonging to St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Pytha- goras Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Wash- ington Commandery, Knights Templar ; Sphinx Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine : and Connecticut Consistory, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite, thirty-sec- ond degree.
He married Jennie I., daughter of John Mason, of New York City. They are the parents of one child, Jessie Robinson Top- ping, a student at Wellesley College, class of 1920.
STEVENS, William,
Well Known Hotel Proprietor.
The qualities that enable a man to win success in the business world must, it would seem obvious, be at base pretty con- stant, yet they vary in detail to an aston- ishing extent and make their appearance behind the most divergent of characters. So much is this the case that it is utterly out of the question to attempt, from a few examples, to lay down any rules whatso- ever as to the type of successful men, for if we seek a little further we are sure to find another type totally dissimilar and equally successful and have to readjust all our theories to fit the facts. Thus, if we find that the self-assertive man with the loud voice and the somewhat over- bearing manner runs a successful estab- lishment in a certain street, we must not jump at the conclusion that self-assertion, loud voices and overbearing manners are the elements of success, probably it was something quite different that placed him where he stands, while it is an even chance but that next door or across the street you will find a still more successful place operated by a quiet, modest, retir- ing gentleman who is reticent about ex-
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pressing his opinion even on the casual issues of the day and hour. Yet assuredly there is some point in common between them, some ground common to them from which they both inaugurate those efforts that bring them at length to the top of the ladder of success. Perhaps, if we should consider more curiously as to what this character is that all, however different they appear to our casual observance, must possess if they would compel for- tune, we would discover that it is a com- plex thing made up of several components. Assuredly one of these is the capacity for hard work, without which no success worthy of the name can be achieved, and another is the ability to see quickly the relations between all the elements of a problem. Added to these the decision of character to act quickly upon one's judg- ment without taking time to reconsider, and we have, perhaps, as complete a recipe for success as can be given in a few words. However this may be, it was the possession of these qualities that made the career of William Stevens so success- ful, though perhaps in his case we should add to these essentials the ability to make and hold devoted friends. Entering into business in Norwalk with no influence and but very little acquaintance, he rapid- ly grew to be one of the most conspicuous figures in its business world so that his sudden death there on March 7, 1916, was felt as a loss by the community generally.
William Stevens was born May 1. 1859. in New York City. a son of Ebenezer and Sarah (Beldon) Stevens, both natives of New York State. He received his early education in the public schools of his na- tive place, and as a lad won the regard of no less a personage than Richard Croker, for whom he used to run errands. His first business venture after leaving school at the age of fifteen years was the manu- facture of laces, which he continued with
some degree of success for a time. His father, however, had a fine farm in Dutch- ess county, New York, and when about nineteen years old he went there and took up farming in earnest. Again he was successful, but his strongly ambitious na- ture caused him to seek further for wider opportunities, and in 1882 he came to the city of Norwalk, Connecticut. Here he became associated with Murdock McPher- son, his brother-in-law. Messrs. Stevens and McPherson purchased the old Nor- walk Hotel and ran it in partnership for about seven years with a high degree of success, and later the two went to Rock- ville, Connecticut, and there ran with equal success and good fortune the Rock- ville Hotel in that town. Perhaps the greatest success of Mr. Stevens, however. was his management of the Hotel Clifford in South Norwalk, whither he returned in 1910. The Clifford was considerd any- thing but a good proposition in those days in the hotel world and the purchase of it by Mr. Stevens and Mr. Robert McPher- son. Jr., his nephew, was regarded as foolish. Mr. Stevens' judgment did not fail him, however, and nothing daunted. he followed efficient hotel methods and by energetic management soon placed the old hostelry in the front rank of the Norwalk hotels and made it one of the most modern and attractive houses in Connecticut and the adjoining States. Only a little more than a year before Mr. Stevens' death. Mr. McPherson withdrew from the partner- ship, and Mr. Henry J. Miller, of Trenton. New Jersey, became associated with Mr. Stevens in the management of The Clif- ford, a corporation being formed of which Mr. and Mrs. Stevens and Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the members and the stock- holders. Since the death of Mr. Stevens the corporation continues the operation of the house with undiminished success. Mr. Stevens was never able to give as much
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time to social and fraternal life as his in- clinations urged, for the time that was de- manded of him by the management of the several hostelries in which he was inter- ested was such as to preclude the possi- bility. He was, nevertheless, a member of Norwalk Lodge, No. 709, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and very popu- lar with his fellow members.
On November 27, 1890, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Frankie P. Bucknam, of Norwalk, Connecticut, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Marks) Bucknam. Mr. Bucknam was a native of Danbury, Connecticut, and his wife of Norwalk. Mrs. Stevens survives her hus- band and still makes her home in Nor- walk.
Mr. Stevens' character was one which combined many elements that insured his success in the hotel business, for in spite of his retiring manner he possessed a ready wit and the talent of making him- self a most delightful companion. He understood profoundly the various types of humanity with which he came in con- stant contact and he knew that the secret of a hotel's popularity was that perfect service which, while it omits nothing, keeps itself out of sight as it were, so that the occupant feels that all is informal and spontaneous. This he attained in his houses and, as a result, they were im- mensely popular and great successes every one. His personal tastes were very simple and he enjoyed nothing so greatly as the intimate intercourse of his own household and intimate friends. In his youth he had a strong taste for horses, but this pleasure his limited time ren- dered it impossible for him to gratify, especially in the latter years of his life. In all the relations of life his conduct was beyond reproach and he may well serve as a model of the affectionate husband, the faithful friend, the good citizen and the honorable and virtuous man.
ROBINSON, John A. H.,
Public Official.
The due reward of merit, it has often been observed, is frequently, or even gen- erally, withheld until death has rendered its payment in vain, but this is perhaps less the case in such communities as are typical of these United States, where the members are ever on the outlook for abil- ity, and talent is recognized as the most valuable of marketable commodities. It was surely not true in the case of John A. H. Robinson, who from his early youth onward was recognized as possessing ca- pabilities of the greatest value to his fel- lows, and who was quickly given an oppor- tunity to use them, an opportunity which he was in nowise unwilling to improve. While yet a mere lad, he became intensely interested in the political questions with which the country was confronted, nor was this interest limited to those more general problems which possessed a na- tional significance only, but busied itself equally with such issues as were constant- ly arising in the immediate locality of his home. On the broader questions he was in hearty support of the principles advo- cated by the Republican party, and upon attaining his majority allied himself to that party's local organization. It was not long before he was rendering valuable service to his political confreres and soon began to be regarded as a leader by them, notwithstanding his extreme youth.
John Alexander Henry Robinson was born in Belfast, Ireland, July 4, 1880, and is a splendid example of the North of Ire- land stock which has played so important a part in the affairs, not only of its own country but in whatever community its members have settled throughout the world. He is a grandson of Thomas Rob- inson, a farmer in the historic County Down, Baronry of Upper Castlereagh, eight miles from Belfast, Ireland, where
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John Henry Robinson, the father of John A. H. Robinson, was born October 2, 1848. He married Martha J. Moore, also a na- tive of Belfast, Ireland, a daughter of Cap- tain Hugh Moore, of that city, a number of whose relatives are still living, several of whom are in the English army. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rob- inson, all of whom are living at the pres- ent time, as follows: 1. Hugh Moore, who holds an important position in the executive department of the Union Type- writer Company of Bridgeport, Connecti- cut ; married Della Tyrell and they are the parents of one child, Ethel May. 2. Margaret Skillan, who became the wife of Charles Walshaw, of Birmingham, Eng- land. now residing in Bridgeport. Con- necticut. 3. Martha Henry. who became the wife of Clarence Edwin Marsh and the mother of three sons: Elliott, Clar- ence and John Marsh. 4. Edith Mary. 5. John A. H., of whom further. 6. Fred Thomas, who married Luella Payne and they are the parents of three children : Sylvia, Moore and Luella. 7. Adeline Wylie, who became the wife of Charles Gregory and they are the parents of one child. Suzanne Gregory. 8. Maud Ev- eline, who became the wife of John C. Hawley. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh reside in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Robinson in New Haven, Connecticut, and the remainder of the children are residents of Bridge- port.
John Alexander Henry Robinson, al- though born in Ireland, has no personal associations with his native land, as he was brought to the United States by his mother when only three years of age. His father preceded his family to this country about ten months, locating in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and it was to that town that his family came in 1883. The father had already established him-
self in the grocery and tea business, which he successfully conducted for twenty years. Although sixty-nine years of age at the present time, he is still actively en- gaged in business pursuits, being con- nected with the American Graphophone Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
John A. H. Robinson was educated in the common schools of his adopted city, Bridgeport, and at the age of thirteen years abandoned his studies and secured a position with a typewriting concern in Bridgeport, continuing in the office force for about eight years, and then changed his position as salesman on the road for the same concern. serving in that capacity for five years more. The career of Mr. Robinson, however, was destined for an- other department of activity than that of business. In early life he took a keen in- terest in public affairsand made a thorough study of the political situation, especially in relation to local issues. He became ac- tively identified with the city organization of the Republican party in young man- hood and was quickly regarded as a leader in the community. In 1913 he was the successful candidate of the Republican party for city clerk, and is now serving his second term in that important and re- sponsible office. Previous to 1913 he had twice been the candidate of State Senator, but was unsuccessful, the community be- ing strongly Democratic. For six years he has held the position of chairman of the Republican town committee and has charge of its campaign work. Mr. Rob- inson is a member of the Masonic order and has taken his thirty-second degree in Free Masonry. He is also affiliated with the local lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of Pythias, and a number of other similar organizations, and he is an active member of the United Commercial Travellers' Association. In
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religion he is an Episcopalian and attends St. Paul's Church of that denomination ilt Bridgeport.
Mr. Robinson married, in St. Paul's Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut, August 27, 1903, Betsey Carolyn Blood, a native of Bridgeport, a daughter of William Henry and Carolyn (Peck) Blood, natives of Bridgeport, Connecticut, both members of old and distinguished families in that region.
BRENNAN, Patrick Joseph, Physician, Hospital Official.
It is universally found to be true that every change and step forward is accom- panied by an attempt on the part of firmly entrenched conservatism to halt the prog- ress. This is demonstrated in the medical profession, as it is in every other profes- sion and walk of life. The introduction of the use of anaesthetics, to cite an in- stance, was accompanied on all sides by outbursts of ridicule and wrath, religious as well as secular. It is so with every other great discovery in the history of the progress of medical science, that is. when the discovery is sufficiently impor- tant to revolutionize firmly established methods. The younger generation of physicians find themselves brought to face the opposition of the older generation, on the ground that old methods are best. Exception may, of course, be taken to this statement. There are, it is true, excep- tions. Those who become truly great in the profession are those men who have exhausted all sources at hand in the search for improvement, and still look eagerly for others. The opposition brought to bear on the younger and more energetic members of the profession, those whose constructive genius has not yet been dulled by the deadly monotony of the commonplace, is well nigh crushing, and it is given double weight by the fact
that it is communicated to the people themselves. It is only the most impervi- ous, the most hopeful, and those most thoroughly imbued with the sacredness of their calling, who succeed in passing through the wall of opposition. A mem- ber of this class, and one of the rising and most efficient of the younger physi- cians of Waterbury, Connecticut, is Pat- rick Joseph Brennan.
Dr. Patrick J. Brennan was born on July 18, 1883, in Southington, Connecti- cut, the son of John and Catherine Mar- garet (Kennedy) Brennan, of that city. John Brennan was born in Roscommon county, Ireland, and came to America very early in life, for the purpose of tak- ing advantage of the greater opportunities for advancement which the United States offered him. He settled in Norwich, Con- necticut, and there married Catherine Margaret Kennedy, nearly fifty years ago. John Brennan died in January, 1913, in Norwich, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife is still living in Norwich. Their children, six in number, are all living with the exception of one: William Edward, of Norwich ; Annie Margaret, residing in Norwich; John Thomas, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Mary, now the wife of Thomas Frederick Healy, of Nor- wich; Patrick Joseph, of Waterbury ; Thomas Francis, of Norwich. Mrs. Bren- man was born in Ireland, the daughter of Patrick Kennedy, with whom she came to America, locating in Norwich. Patrick Kennedy died in Norwich. The children of Patrick and Margaret Kennedy were seven in number, only two of whom are now living, namely : Catherine Margaret, the mother of Patrick Joseph Brennan ; and William Kennedy, of Hartford. The family of Brennan is a well known one in Roscommon county, Ireland, and numbers among its members a long line of gentle- men farmers.
Patrick J. Brennan moved from South-
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ington, where he was born, to Norwich, with his parents when he was very young. Here he received his early education. The value of a sound education as an efficient start in life was appreciated in his family, and every effort was made to give him educational advantages which would fit him for a professional career, especially since he had an aptitude for study. He completed the elementary and high school courses in Norwich, and after that entered the Medical School at Yale University. He graduated from that institution in 1907, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately upon graduation he entered St. Francis' Hospital in Hartford, Con- necticut, and served there as an interne for a period of one year. After this pre- liminary training in the hospital he came to Waterbury, where he established him- self in a general practice at No. 565 North Main street. He is now, and has for the last five years, acted in the capacity of vis- iting physician of St. Mary's Hospital of Waterbury. Dr. Brennan's practice is large, and of an exacting nature. The advent of the specialist, with its accom- panying train of relief from the constant demands upon the physician's time, which is a thing which the ordinary person is prone to disregard, is lessening the num- ber of men who devote themselves whole heartedly to the service of humanity through ministering to its ills, independ- ent of calculation as to the material bene- fits accruing to themselves therefrom. The specialist is beyond the reach of the great mass of the people, to whom the general practitioner is accessible. And because of the fact that he is accessible to the people at all times, the life of the physi- cian who is devoted to his profession can hardly be called his own, the routine is endless, and the strain and drain of energy continual. Only the sacredness of the calling, and appreciation of it on the part
of the people to whom its ministry is ex- tended, can make up for the sacrifice which it entails.
Outside the demands of his work, Dr. Brennan is interested in and connected with several social and fraternal organiza- tions of the city of Waterbury. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the Knights of Colum- bus, and of the Algonquin Club, of Water- bury. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart. Dr. Brennan has never married.
RAFFEL, Louis Mordechyi,
Business Man.
There are few, if any, people of the Old World to whom the refuge offered by the United States from the oppression and hardships of their native lands has come as a greater and more welcome blessing than to the Jews of Russia, nor any people who have so quickly and splendidly re- sponded to the new opportunities and duties offered and imposed thereby. Com- ing out of a land where they have grown accustomed to cruelty and contempt, where every ambition, even that least selfish one, to educate and enlighten them- selves, is frowned upon and repressed. they spring from this enforced ignorance and obscurity into strong and effective activity, appreciating to the full the wel- come and friendly encouragement they receive here, so that it not infrequently happens that they become rich and influ- ential and attain to positions of the greatest prominence in their adopted home. Nowhere do they make their ap- pearance but the community is benefited. not only in a material manner, through their industry and enterprise, but in the realm of education and general culture of which they invariably raise the average to a remarkable extent. Indeed, the avidity
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with which they devour all the educa- tional opportunities open to them, the high standard of their reading, is one of the most noticeable and noticed features of their life here. A typical example of this energetic people is Louis Mordechyi Raffel, one of the most capable and suc- cessful of the young business men of Waterbury, Connecticut, in spite of the fact that he is (1916), but thirty-five years old and was born and reared in a foreign land and under a regime so different from that under which he has made such re- markable development, that it would seem almost to belong to another world.
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