USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 5 > Part 32
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The Willis family is a very old and respected one in England, and the name is a Welsh patronymic, answering to Willson and Willison in English. Upon our records, before the orthography of
names became fixed and uniform, it was spelled Wills, Willes, Wullys, Wyllis, Willis, in reference to the same persons, until the last spelling became nearly uni- versal. This name, though extremely . common in this and the mother country, probably had no existence in its present form until the Welsh began to adopt the custom prevalent in other parts of Great Britain of adding an s final to denote the son of, in this case son of Wille. Among the immigrants to New England in the eighteenth century twenty of the name of Willis appear. That of George Willis can be traced for nine generations in Eng- land previous to his coming to America. He was the son of Richard or Timothy Willis, and came from Fenny Compton, Warwickshire, and was of Hartford, Con- necticut, in 1637, when he, "Mr. Willis," enlisted as a trooper in the Pequot War, under Major John Mason. He was chosen assistant in 1638, deputy gov- ernor, 1641, governor, 1642, and died March 9, 1645. His wife was Mary, and his children were: I. Hester, who mar- ried, October 17, 1645, Captain Robert Harding. 2. Amy, married, November 6, 1645, John Pyncheon. 3. George, who remained in England, and received from his father the bequest of an estate at Fenny Compton, in Warwickshire. Mar- garet Willis, who married John Cotter, can very readily have been a descendant of this man. In "A Genealogical Regis- ter of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans," by the Rev. Abner Morse, the arms of the Willis family are given as follows :
Arms-Argent, a chevron sable between three mullets gules.
Crest-A hawk with wing displayed, proper.
The mother of Margaret Willis was Elizabeth (Troupe) Willis. There is an interesting tradition which connects the
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Throope, or Troupe, family with the Col- onel Adrian Scroope, who fought in the Parliamentary army, was governor of Bristol Castle in 1649, served in the High Court of Justice that condemned Charles I. and signed his death warrant. The story is that at the time of the Restora- tion, when search for the regicides was made, he came to this country, assuming the name of William Throupe. Another regicide who sought refuge in the friendly asylum of New England upon the restora- tion of royal power was Judge Whalley.
The children of George and Elizabeth (Anderson) Glover were as follows: I. George Herbert, born June 21, 1866, died February 2, 1887. 2. Anna Phelps, born May 31, 1868, became the wife of Alfred Bissell Campbell, of Enfield, Connecti- cut, and was the mother of a son, George Herbert Glover Campbell, born June 25, 1892, now a second lieutenant in the United States Artillery, stationed at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. His mother died July 25, 1895. 3. Bertha Elizabeth, born September 17, 1872, died February 5, 1893. 4. Mabel Anderson, born Sep- tember 17, 1872. 5. Gertrude Rebecca, born July 27, 1876, died December 27, 1881.
BURKE, Patrick Francis, Jr., Lawyer.
Among the younger generation of law- yers who are to-day rising into promi- nence in the city of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, Patrick Francis Burke, Jr., de- serves prominent mention for the rapidity with which he has won recognition in legal circles and because of his strong and single-minded devotion to the tradi- tions of his profession. He is a native of Thompsonville, Connecticut, but is by parentage an Irishman and displays in his character the typical virtues and abilities
of that race. He is a son of Patrick Francis Burke, Sr., and of Bridget (Sulli- van) Burke, his wife.
Mr. Burke, Sr., was a native of Ire- land, and there his childhood was passed. As a mere youth, however, he migrated to this country and settled in the town of Thompsonville, Connecticut, where he became an employee of the Carpet Mills and worked his way up until he was a boss dyer in the plant here. Still later he engaged in a wholesale liquor business, in which he met with considerable suc- cess. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Walter A., who is now engaged with his father in his business in Thompsonville; Patrick Francis, Jr., mentioned below; May, who resides with her parents at home; and Francis A., who is now a student in Holy Cross College.
Born January 3, 1890, at Thompson- ville, Connecticut, Patrick Francis Burke. Jr., received his education at the schools of this town. He attended a parochial school and the public high school of En- field, where he was prepared for a col- lege career. Upon graduation from the latter institution he matriculated at Holy Cross College, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1910, taking his degree as Bachelor of Arts. His career in this college established for him an excellent reputation for scholarship and general good character, and he won the approval and friendship not only of his fellow undergraduates but also of the faculty and teaching staff. In the mean- time Mr. Burke had decided to make the law his profession, and accordingly in the same year as his graduation from Holy Cross, he entered the law school in con- nection with Yale University. Here he studied the required three years and was graduated in 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately after-
Conn-5-15
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wards he began the practice of his profes- sion in Hartford and here remained for some eighteen months. At the end of that time he removed to Springfield, Mas- sachusetts, where he has associated him- self with Mr. Henry Lasker, and since that time has carried on a most success- ful parctice here. He is at present a prominent member of the bar and much important litigation is entrusted to him. Mr. Burke has maintained his home in Thompsonville, Connecticut, although his office is situated at Springfield, Massa- chusetts, and it is at the former place that his legal residence is established. On May 1, 1917, he was appointed by the State Legislature of Connecticut, deputy judge of the Town Court of Enfield in this State, a position which he is at the present time holding, and in which he has done valuable service to the commun- ity. In politics Mr. Burke is a Republi- can, and has done much to assist the local organization of his party of recent years. He is a prominent figure in the social world of Thompsonville, and is active in the Order of the Knights of Columbus, having held the office of deputy grand knight, and is at the present time grand knight thereof and also lecturer. He is also a member of Waite Chapter of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity of Yale. He is also a member of the Alumni Society of Holy Cross College and of the Alumni Society of Yale. In his religious belief Mr. Burke is a Roman Catholic, as have been all the members of his family from time immemorial.
Patrick Francis Burke, Jr., was united in marriage, April 3, 1912, with May Celestia Fleming, of Suffield, Connecti- cut, a daughter of Michael and Bridget (Galvin) Fleming, her father being a well-known and prosperous farmer of that region in the State. To Mr. and Mrs. Burke one child has been born, Ed- mund, June 8, 1916.
HANLEY, William Edward,
Postmaster, Merchant.
William Edward Hanley, who for thirty-two years was a responsible mer- chant of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, and one of its most active residents, asso- ciated with most of its public movements, and prominent particularly in supporting the Democratic party's policies, was born in Monson, Massachusetts, July 12, 1855, and died at The Johnson Hospital, Staf- ford Springs, September 29, 1917, son of John and Margaret Hanley.
John Hanley (father) was born in Tip- perary, Ireland, in 1815, attended the common schools of his native place, and in 1850 emigrated to the United States, and during the thirty-eight years of his residence here gained by honest work and good citizenship the respect of those with whom he became acquainted. He is well remembered in the town of Stafford Springs, where his death occurred in the year 1888. His wife, Margaret Hanley, was also a native of Tipperary, born in 1820, and her death also occurred there in the same year as her husband, 1888. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hanley were earnest members of the Catholic church. They were the parents of at least four children : William Edward, of whom further; Pat- rick, a resident of Stafford Springs; Dan- iel, a resident of Woonsocket, Rhode Island ; and Mary, wife of - McCor- mack, of Boston, Massachusetts.
William Edward Hanley received pub- lic school education in Monson, Massa- chusetts, but, like so many other Ameri- can boys of character who later succeeded so well in life despite early educational handicaps, he was not altogether down- cast that his years of schooling should be few. At the age of thirteen, he was hard and optimistically working, in the hum- blest capacity, in a woolen mill in his native place, and he evidently became
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skilled in the work, for step by step he rose in responsibility until he attained the position of overseer, installing all the looms at the Mineral Springs mill in 1883. From there he went to Hydeville, as overseer, remaining there about two years and a half. During these years he had saved sufficient capital to enable him to engage in independent business, and he established himself in the retail shoe trade in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, in due course of time building up a fine bus- iness.
Upon locating in Stafford Springs, Mr. Hanley entered energetically and intelli- gently into public affairs. He was an aggressive townsman, and sought to advance its interests constantly. Almost at the outset he was elected to town office, in 1884 the labors pertaining to the office of tax collector being vested in him, and he served in that capacity for six years, 1884-89. He gained in general popularity, and in 1891 was chosen by the people of Stafford Springs to act as their representative in the State Legislature, or General Assembly. That he served them well is evident in the fact that he was returned to the House, altogether serving in the sessions of 1891-93. Other matters, including his own business, kept him out of public office for some years thereafter, but for three years, 1900-02, he was a member of the school board, served on the Court of Burgesses, and in many other ways materially aided the adminis- tration. During the years 1911-15, Mr. Hanley was a member of the Board of Park Commissioners, resigning this office when appointed by President Wilson to the postmastership of Stafford Springs, an office for which he was well fitted. Needless to say this appointment was in accord with the wish of the people of Stafford Springs in general, and particu- larly of the Democratic section. He took
the office of postmaster on February I, 1915. He was also for many years a mem- ber of the State Democratic Committee and of the local Democratic Town Com- mittee.
Mr. Hanley was very popular in fra- ternal circles, and he devoted much time to the proceedings and maintaining in active, useful charity of the local branches of the orders to which he belonged. These were the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he was master work- man; Knights of Columbus, in which he served as grand knight of the local order ; Ancient Order of Hibernians, and For- esters of America. Socially he was a member of the Stafford Club. He was devout in the observances of the Catholic church, and was a trustee of St. Edward's Church at Stafford Springs, in which both he and his wife held membership, as do those of his children residing at home. Mr. Hanley was a man of sterling quali- ties, upright in business and greatly respected.
Mr. Hanley was married in St. Ed- ward's Church, Stafford Springs, by the Rev. Patrick Donohue, on November 4, 1880, to Rose, daughter of Patrick and Mary Clark, a native of Ireland. She died December 7, 1899. Eight children were born to them, namely: I. John P., born February 22, 1882; received the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and is now engaged in medical practice at Stafford Springs. 2. William J., born August, 1883. 3. Mary B., born 1885. 4. Rose M., born August, 1888. 5. Bernard C., born July, 1894. 6. Alice T., born Octo- ber, 1895. 7. Mildred C., born Septem- ber, 1896. 8. Walter J., born July, 1899. The funeral services of Mr. Hanley were held at St. Edward's Church with a sol- emn high mass. Interment was in St. Edward's Cemetery.
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PIERSON, Martin E.,
Public Works Contractor.
Born in Sweden, but a resident within the State of Connecticut since 1888, Mar- tin E. Pierson has, in his capacity of chief executive of the Pierson Engineering and Construction Company, undertaken many public works of importance for the State and municipalities of Connecticut. Much success has come to him, but only in pro- portion to his efforts and ability.
Mr. Pierson was born in Helsingborg, Sweden, on January 23, 1873, the son of Per Pierson, who was superintendent of a coal mine in that place, and a well- respected and prosperous man in the community. The son, Martin E., was afforded such education as could be obtained in the town, but when only four- teen years of age had resolved to venture alone across the sea to America, there to enter upon a business career in the hope of achieving personal success more quickly, or in greater measure, than com- mercial opportunities in his native land gave promise. In the year 1888, Martin E. Pierson arrived at Bristol, Connecti- cut. There he has since remained, to his material advantage, and because of his works to the advantage of the town and State. Handicapped at the outset by his lack of knowledge of the English lan- guage, he had to take minor capacities for many years. After a period of service in a factory, followed by labor in a saw mill, he secured employment in a dry goods establishment, and in 1896 entered the employ of Charles R. Hart & Company, of Hartford, with which firm he remained until 1899, when he determined to ven- ture into independent business, undertak- ing public works contracts, although at first he prudently undertook no large con- tracts. His activities took shape in the direction of street-paving and the build-
ing of sidewalks, he having acquired knowledge of this branch of contracting work while serving as a member of the street commission of Bristol. With time came extensive knowledge of other branches of the business, and ability to accomplish satisfactorily small undertak- ings brought larger ones, until eventually Mr. Pierson's contracts became so exten- sive and diversified as to necessitate in- corporation. In 1907 the Pierson Engi- neering and Construction Company came into corporate existence, with Mr. Pier- son as president. The company is well- known throughout New England, and is engaged in work over that entire terri- tory, covering the following phases : Dams, water supply, sewage disposal, piers, tunnels, railroads, wells, borings, property development, municipal con- struction, steel and reinforced concrete, buildings, bridges, foundation, and piling. It employs six hundred to eight hundred men, a striking contrast to the dozen with which Mr. Pierson made his first venture. The company now is constructing the Nepaug reservoir of the city of Hartford's new waterworks. Other contracts under- taken by the company have been: The Bristol Water Works, several large dams in that city, a dam for the city of Meri- den, and one for New Britain. The sig- nal ability of its president, Mr. Pierson, has been the main factor in the growth of the company.
A Republican of prominence in Bristol, Mr. Pierson has on several occasions accepted public office ; he served for six years as a member of the Board of Bur- gesses in Bristol, for a period serving on the commission on streets. In 1913 his ability in public office found recognition in his election to the State Legislature, as representative of the city of Bristol, and in his subsequent advancement, in 1915, to the State Senate, in the interests of the
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Fifth District. At present, Senator Pier- son is chairman of the excise committee. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of the Knights of Pythias, lodge and uniform rank.
Mr. Pierson married Alma, daughter of Carl Benson, of New Britain. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are members of the Luth- eran church.
WILLIAMS, Ernest Russell, Manufacturer.
Mr. Williams is a descendent of an old New England family, probably of Mat- thew Williams, some of whose descend- ants located in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Matthew Williams was first located at Watertown, Massachusetts, and settled in Wethersfield before 1645. He was a brick maker and farmer, and after 1655 dwelt for a time on Long Island, remov- ing later to Barbadoes, but retaining his residence in Wethersfield. It is presum- able that he was engaged in commerce. He was dead in 1680, and was survived by a widow, Susannah.
Their eldest son, Amos Williams, was born March 14, 1646, in Wethersfield, where he owned considerable land, and was also a landholder in Orange, New Jersey, but did not settle there. In 1668 he was town crier. He was an early set- tler in the Rocky Hill section of Weth- ersfield. The inventory of his estate, filed in 1683 in Hartford, amounted to £217 15s. He married, June 29, 1670, Eliza- beth, whose surname is not preserved. After his death she married Lieutenant Thomas Hollister.
Samuel Williams, second son, was born June 25, 1675, in Wethersfield, and mar- ried, June 24, 1697, Mary Stebbins, daugh- ter of John Stebbins, and granddaughter
of John Stebbins, of Watertown, Massa- chusetts.
Their second son was Samuel Wil- liams, born February 3, 1702, in Wethers- field, settled in Glastonbury, where he was married, January 17, 1733, to Susanna, daughter of John Potts. They were the ancestors of those of the name living in Glastonbury.
One of their descendants lived in Cat- skill, New York, where was born, about 1800, Robert Williams, who died in Meri- den at the age of eighty years. His par- ents died when he was a youth. He learned the trade of cooper. Later in life he engaged in business on his own account, and traveled through the South with a tin peddler's wagon, such as is now familiar only to the older generation. He did an extensive business in the South and acquired some capital, with which he engaged in business as a tinsmith in Meri- den, Connecticut. Subsequently he also engaged in farming. He married Rachel Baldwin, born about 1807-10, in what is now Meriden, daughter of Samuel Bald- win, and a descendant of Joseph Baldwin, who was among the original settlers of Milford, Connecticut. He was a son of Richard Baldwin, of Cholesbury, near Ashton Clinton, County of Bucks, Eng- land, and was of record in Milford in 1639. His wife Hannah joined the church there, January 23, 1644, and at that time their first four children were baptized. About 1663, Joseph Baldwin removed with his family to Hadley, Mas- sachusetts, where he and his son, Joseph Baldwin, were admitted freemen in 1666. His seventh child was Jonathan Baldwin, born February 15, 1649, in Milford, bap- tized two days later, lived in that town, and married there, November 2, 1677, Hannah, daughter of John Ward. Their fourth son was Daniel Baldwin, baptized March 3, 1689, who settled, in 1728, in
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that part of Wallingford known as Meri- den Parish, where he was a member of the church, and made his will in 1767. He was survived by his wife Patience. Their eldest child, Daniel Baldwin, born Sep- tember 28, 1713, in Milford, resided in the east part of the town of Meriden in 1747, having a farm north of Black Pond, where he died February 9, 1800. He married, December 2, 1747, Mercy Eaton. Their eldest child, Samuel Baldwin, born De- cember 20, 1749, was a soldier of the Rev- olution, and died August 3, 1828. He married Hannah Taylor, of Bolton, Con- necticut, born January 22, 1756, daughter of Thomas and Abigail (Wood) Taylor. Their eldest son was Samuel Baldwin, born 1778, in Meriden Parish, died 1844. He married Achsah Hale, and they were the parents of Rachel Baldwin, wife of Robert Williams.
Their son, Russell Williams, was born June 2, 1836, in Meriden, and died March 10, 1917, at his home on Garden street, Wethersfield. He resided in Meriden until four years before his death, and was for many years engaged in the painting and roofing business, and conducted a wall paper store, a pioneer in that line in Meriden. While not an office seeker, he took an active interest in political move- ments, acting with the Republican party, was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Meriden, and several other fraternal orders, and was also a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Meriden. He was a very strong adherent of the temperance cause, and led a most exemplary life. He mar- ried (first) Mary L., daughter of Alonzo and Eliza Ann (Minard) Leeds, and they were the parents of Jennie Belle Wil- liams. The mother died at the age of thirty-one years, and Mr. Williams mar- ried (second) Ellen Isadore Radcliffe, who survives him with their two chil-
dren : Ada Grace, wife of David R. Bris- tol, of Meriden, and Ernest Russell, of further mention. The eldest daughter also survives him and resides in Weth- ersfield.
Ernest Russell Williams was born Oc- tober 7, 1877, in Meriden, and received his education in the public schools of that town. When eighteen years of age he engaged in business on his own account in supplying spring water to residents of the city. Soon after he removed to New Britain, Connecticut, and entered the em- ploy of Radcliffe Brothers, dealers in builders' supplies, and continued ten years in that employment. Having be- come thoroughly familiar with all the details of the business he was sent to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1909, to take charge of a factory there, employing some thirty people on an average. The business was incorporated under the name of the Hartford Sash & Door Company, April 25, 1908, and Mr. Williams was made president and general manager in 1911. The business has been continuously pros- perous, and under the efficient charge of Mr. Williams is steadily growing, and now occupies spacious quarters.
Mr. Williams married Ethel L., daugh- ter of - - Walton, of New Brunswick, at that time a resident of Meriden. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of three children : Dorothy Mae, Russell Walton and Robert Stanley.
PARSONS, George Simonson, Business Man.
One of the most energetic and progres- sive among the successful men of Hart- ford, Connecticut, is George Simonson Parsons, proprietor of the Thompsonville Hotel and tobacco grower on a large scale. He is a son of Naaman and Mary (Abbe) Parsons, who were, like him-
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self, natives and residents of this city. Naaman Parsons was a Baptist clergy- man, and when his son, George S. Par- sons, was seven years of age took charge for a time of the Baptist church at Put- ney, Vermont, where he and his family resided for a time. Later he went to East Long Meadow, Massachusetts, and here was in charge of a church for a number of years. His wife is a daughter of Lem- uel and Sarah Abbe, Mr. Abbe having been a farmer in the region of Enfield, where the Abbe family has long been prominent. Mr. Parsons, Sr., served as a private in the Twenty-first Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry for nine months during the Civil War.
Born July 21, 1873, at Hartford, Con- necticut, George Simonson Parsons was the youngest of a family of three chil- dren. His elder brother, Frederick Par- sons, is now a resident of Brooklyn, New York, where he is in charge of the rolling stock of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. The other child was a daugh- ter, Lizzie, who became the wife of Ben- jamin Simmons, who is associated with the manufacture of woolen goods at Ware, Massachusetts. The first seven years of Mr. Parsons' life were spent in his native Hartford, and he then accom- panied his parents to Putney, Vermont, where his father had been called to take charge of the Baptist church. Here it was that he began to attend school and passed through the grammar and high school grades there. He was then taken by his parents to East Long Meadow, but did not remain there a great while, as in 1892 he left the parental roof and made his way to Cleveland, Ohio. Here the young man secured a position with the Electric Street Railway of that city and worked for five years at wiring street cars. In 1897, however, he returned to Connecticut, where he purchased about
forty-five acres of excellent land, not far from Thompsonville, and engaged in the tobacco-growing business. He now raises some twenty-eight acres of the best shade tobacco, a crop which is always sure of having an excellent market, and is one of the most paying in Connecticut. He has been highly successful in this venture, and some years ago purchased the Thompsonville Hotel, which he now runs in a modern and up-to-date manner. Here, too, he has met with marked suc- cess and made his hotel very popular with the traveling public. Mr. Parsons has always been keenly interested in local affairs and has taken a very prominent part in them. In politics he is a Republi- can, and has been elected to a number of important offices on that party's ticket, among which should be mentioned a membership on the Board of Relief and that of assessor. In 1917 he was elected to represent his district in the State Leg- islature and is now a member of that body. Mr. Parsons is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of the World, and of Friendship Lodge, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of Thompsonville. He is a member of the German Club of Springfield. In his relig- ious belief Mr. Parsons is a Baptist and attends the church of that denomination at Hartford. He is very active in its work and has been a deacon thereof for some years.
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