USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 5 > Part 36
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His first experience in business in this country was as clerk and bookkeeper in the office of one of the city's large mer- cantile houses. The dominant desire to make good was paramount in his mind, and from the time in 1880 when he be- came associated with the Ætna Life In- surance Company, Mr. McGovern has risen rapidly and to-day is an important factor in the civic and business life of Hartford. He is largely interested in the progress and prosperity of the Ætna Life Insurance Company. His interest in affairs of a civic nature is a very keen one, and he is most prominently identi- fied with the interests of the Republican party. He has untiringly devoted his time and energies in its behalf. For twenty years he was a member of the
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Statica Servern)
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Court of Common Council, and for seven years was president of the Board of Al- dermen, displaying true executive abil- ity. Previous to the consolidation of the town and city of Hartford, he was an auditor of town accounts. The time when the zeal and true ability of the man was displayed was in his work as chairman of the Republican town committee, an office he held for upwards of twenty years. He was instrumental in bringing in new members through his rare tact and naturally persuasive manner. Dur- ing his administration Hartford was transformed into a Republican strong- hold and made possible the placing of Connecticut in the column of Republican States. It was an impossibility for his opponents to overcome the clear, sensi- ble and logical methods of Mr. McGov- ern. The constituents of Mr. McGovern fully realized the worth he would be in representing them in the General Assem- bly, and in 1905 he was elected from the Second Senatorial District by a large ma- jority and was again reelected at the ex- piration of his term, serving until 1908. He was chairman of the committee on insurance, rendering efficient service. During the session of 1907 he earned a name and brought fame to himself in his excellent work as chairman of the com- mittee on appropriations. At that time this was the most important committee of the entire legislative body and much credit is due to Senator McGovern for his origination of the plans that proved to be the most practicable. It was this committee that recommended appropria- tions for good roads for six years of ap- proximately one million dollars a year, also the erection of the Armory and State Library buildings and the fire proofing of the Capitol building. During Mr. Mc- Govern's term as Senator, no bid or reso- lution offered by him as chairman of his committee failed of passage. It is a
remarkable record of successful achieve- ments. On May 13, 1918, he was nom- inated by Mayor Kinsella to the Board of Street Commissioners, of Hartford, for a three-year term. Fraternally he is a member of Hartford Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He pos- sesses a most genial and pleasant manner, and has many friends among the leading residents of Hartford who thoroughly appreciate his sterling qualities and esteem him for his frankness and cour- age. Senator McGovern married, Octo- ber 15, 1912, Julia P. Kinghorn.
LUDDY, Michael Gabriel,
Attorney-at-Law.
Michael Gabriel Luddy, one of the ris- ing young attorneys of Hartford, Con- necticut, is an American by birth, but of Irish parentage, and is a son of James Luddy, an Irish patriot, who came to this country, settling at Bridgeport, Connec- ticut, and here married Mary Maloney, who was also born in Ireland, about 1892. They afterwards removed to Thompson- ville, Connecticut. Mr. Luddy, Sr., was a native of County Clare, Ireland, and was a brass worker by trade.
Born March 19, 1893, at Bridgeport. Connecticut, Michael Gabriel Luddy ac- companied his parents to Thompsonville in that State when one year of age, so that his earliest associations were formed in this place. It was here also that he received the elementary portion of his education, attending for this purpose the public schools. He graduated from the High School of Thompsonville, where he prepared for college, and established an unusually good record as a student and won the Hibernian scholarship of Con- necticut. Accordingly, he matriculated at the Catholic University of Washing- ton, D. C., and here devoted his attention to the study of the law, having deter-
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mined to make this his profession in life. How brilliant a student he was may be seen from the fact that when he had studied only two years at the University, he took his bar examinations and passed, but was, nevertheless, not permitted to practice until he had finished his course in college and graduated therefrom. He finally graduated with the class of 1916, being the thirteenth in his examinations out of a class of one hundred and thirty- nine students that passed. He then re- ceived his degree of Doctor of Laws, and since that time has been active in the practice of his profession. He established himself at first in Thompsonville, but shortly afterwards opened another office in Hartford, where he became a member of the firm of Fletcher & Luddy. He gives promise of becoming one of the leaders in his profession in this region.
Mr. Luddy has also interested himself most keenly and most actively in the cause of Ireland's independence, having been trained from early childhood to feel very strongly upon this subject by his father. While he was yet in school, Mr. Luddy organized the First Irish Society there and since that time he has spoken in various parts of Connecticut on this subject and written many newspaper articles. His mind is a very active one and he has never feared to undertake what might seem like onerous tasks to the average man, and it was while he was still in school that he first began his con- nection with the newspapers and journal- ism. He wrote for six years in all for various publications, was police reporter for the "Hartford Post" for two years and was court and capital reporter for the "Hartford Times" for a similar period. While at the Catholic University in Washington, D. C., he was for two years political correspondent for five Connecti- cut papers. He is prominent in Republi- can politics, often serving as campaign
speaker, but has never aspired to public office. Mr. Luddy is a prominent figure in social circles in Hartford, and is a member of many associations and clubs there. He is affiliated with the local lodge of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, is a member of the City Club of Hartford and of the Press Club of Washington, D. C. In his religious belief he is a Roman Catholic, and is active in the work of his parish in Hartford. He is unmarried.
GRAY, Merwin,
Broker.
Merwin Gray, senior partner of Mer- win Gray & Company, a prominent brok- erage firm of Hartford, was born in Red- ding, Connecticut, March 15, 1877, the son of Charles S. and Harriet N. (Mer- win) Gray, and a descendant of an old and distinguished New England family, prominent since the early Colonial days.
Charles S. Gray, his father, was born in Redding, removed in his youth to New Haven, Connecticut, where he later be- came prominently indentified with the dry goods business. Mr. Gray enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Connecticut Regiment, and was commissioned a sec- ond lieutenant of that company. In later life he went West and settled in Los An- geles, California, where he died in 1908, at the age of fifty-eight years. He mar- ried Harriet N., a daughter of Smith and Amelia (Painter) Merwin, and a descend- ant on the maternal side of the Painter family identified with the history of New Haven since Revolutionary days. Mr. and Mrs. Gray were the parents of three children: I. Fannie, who became the wife of Clarence C. Andrew. 2. Bertha, who became the wife of Charles Edward Rich- ards. 3. Merwin, of further mention.
Merwin Gray removed with his par- ents at an early age to New Haven, where he received his schooling in the New
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The American HistoricalSociety
Eng by E. G. Williams & Bro.NY
Merwin Tray
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Haven Grammar and High schools. His first position in the business world was in the office of the Record Publishing Com- pany of New Haven. Through industry and application Mr. Gray was rapidly advanced until he became Hartford man- ager for the firm in 1906, and later its vice-president, which position he still holds. In 1909 Mr. Gray started in busi- ness for himself as a dealer in investment securities, in which he attained immedi- ate success. He formed a partnership with Kenneth S. Adams and Arthur H. Merrill, March 1, 1915, under the firm name of Merwin Gray & Company, deal- ers in Stocks, Bonds and Local Securi- ties. The business progressed rapidly and the firm to-day is one of the lead- ing brokerage houses of the city, being members of the New York and Hartford Stock exchanges. Mr. Gray was admit- ted to membership in the New York Stock Exchange, April 22, 1915.
Mr. Gray is keenly interested in the civic affairs of Hartford, and holds a prominent part in the social and club life of that city. He is a member of the Hart- ford Club, the Hartford Golf Club, and the Bolton Fish & Game Club. He is an enthusiast in all sports, particularly golf, and finds much recreation in the latter pastime. He has a love for farming, and has acquired and developed a beautiful county place in Bolton, Connecticut. Upon the declaration of war, Mr. Gray was desirous to be of some service and enlisted in the Naval Reserve, Connecti- cut Home Guard. He was later commis- sioned by the Governor, lieutenant and paymaster on Commander F. R. Cooley's staff.
On October 5, 1899, Mr. Gray was mar- ried to Jane Mallory, a daughter of Les- ter P. and Jane (Bray) Mallory, of New Haven, Connecticut. They are the par- ents of a son and daughter, Janet and
Mallory. Mr. and Mrs. Gray and family are active members of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church of Hartford.
PIERSON, Magnus,
Floriculturist, Nurseryman.
Magnus Pierson, owner of extensive nurseries at Cromwell, Connecticut, the operation of which gives permanent em- ployment for five men, excluding himself, and temporary employment for many more, is of Swedish origin. He was born in the county of Scona, Sweden, February 16, 1862, the son of Nels and Hannah Pierson, of Scona. His father, Nels Pier- son, who was an academician, came to America in 1869, and in the following year Magnus, with his mother, also came, disembarking in due course in New York City.
The family located in Plainville, Con- necticut, and there Magnus Pierson at- tended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, going then, in 1877, to Florida, where for three years he re- mained, and during that time gained mnuch knowledge of horticulture and fruit growing by his work in orange groves of that State. In 1880 he returned to Con- necticut and resumed his schooling, at tending a school in Cromwell for several terms. Thereafter, for five years, he en- gaged in maritime occupations, influ- enced thereto probably by the desire that comes to so many young men of adven- turous spirit to see foreign parts in their vigorous years of early manhood. He served "before the mast" at the begin- ning of his seafaring experience, but within thirteen months became an offi- cer. He served as second mate on sev- eral sailing vessels that plied between New York City and the West Indies and also various parts of South America. In 1886 he again became a landsman, going
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to Florida and there purchasing an or- ange grove, and in the development of his plantation, Magnus Pierson remained in Florida for seven years.
In 1893 Magnus Pierson disposed of his orange grove and left Florida. He next resided in Chicago, and there en- deavored to establish himself in inde- pendent business as a baker. In 1895, however, he returned to Cromwell, Con- necticut, where his elder brother was then firmly established in the nursery busi- ness, and had become very widely known as a rose grower. Shortly before Mag- nus Pierson returned to Cromwell and became associated with his brother in business, his brother had lost the serv- ices of Robert Simpson, who was reputed to be one of the leading rose-growing experts in the country, and this may have influenced Magnus in closing his Chicago bakery and joining his brother. He worked with his brother for ten years, but in 1904 severed the connection, and resolved to take up the business on his own account. At the outset he special- ized in asparagus and garden produce, but eventually his establishment evolved into a floral nursery, and in all classes of bedding plants he developed a consid- erable and lucrative connection, the pro- ducts of his houses and land finding ready markets in many widely separated parts of the United States, the output representing many hundreds of thousands of plants yearly. By dint of hard work and resolute determination to succeed despite the many disappointments he experienced in his early years as a flori- culturist, Mr. Pierson has made substan- tial progress; he has five acres under tillage and glass, and permanently in his employ are fire gardeners, besides many more during the busy season. He has every reason to be satisfied with the re- sult of his industry and enterprise.
Mr. Pierson resides in Cromwell, in the old Sage homestead, which property he purchased in 1900, and he is recog- nized as one of the leading business men of that place. He takes an active part in town affairs. Politically he gives allegi- ance to the Republican party ; he has been a member of the Cromwell School Board for twelve years, and is also a councilman. Fraternally he is a Mason, affiliated with Washington Lodge, No. 81, of Cromwell. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, holding membership in Myrtle Lodge, No. 161, of DeLand. Florida.
During his residence in Florida he be- came acquainted with Mary Stanley Newnham, daughter of John and Agnes (Stanley) Newnham, of the Isle of Wight, England. She eventually became his wife, the marriage being consummated in Jacksonville, Florida, April 25, 1888. To them have been born five children: I. Alice R., born August 21, 1889; married Ralph Waldo Swetman, of Providence, Rhode Island; she has indicated marked natural talent as a lecturer. 2. Margue- rite Jessie, born October 23, 1895. 3. Paul Newnham, born January 2, 1897. 4. Grace Emily, born April 6, 1899. 5. Stanley Drayton, born April 7, 1901.
Mrs. Pierson, the derivation of whose maiden name is from the ancient Eng- lish town of Newnham, where in all probability early generations of her fam- ily had residence, is a lady of strong personality, many accomplishments, and marked public spirit. She is prominent socially and has interested herself in many public movements within the com- munity ; she is past worthy matron of Cromwell Chapter, No. 66, Eastern Star, and actively cooperates in the work of the Red Cross Home Club, of which she is a member. The family attend the Cromwell Congregational Church.
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LONG, John C., Hotel Proprietor.
John C. Long, of the firm of Long Brothers, proprietors of the hotel of that name, is not only well and favorably known locally, but also has a national reputation as a heavy athlete in this coun- try and Canada, as from 1884 to 1914 Mr. Long was a regular attendant at all the old Scottish games, winning many prizes in the heavyweight throwing competi- tions. In these competitions Mr. Long competed with many of the best athletes in this country and Canada, and was suc- cessful in capturing the laurels from his adversaries. An open challenge was issued at one time to any man in the world to compete in throwing a fifty-six pound weight the greatest distance with one hand from a given mark, for a thou- sand dollars a side, but found no man who would accept the challenge.
The careers of Mr. Long and brother, Timothy J. Long, who has been associ- ated with him for many years, offer a notable example of what may be accom- plished by those who have ambition and a will to accomplish, that brooks no ob- stacle in the path to their goal. Mr. Long owes his success to no favor of friend or fortune, but his success is the fruit and just reward of arduous labor and plans well laid.
Michael Long, father of John C. Long, was born in County Cork, Ireland, a maritime county in the Province of Munster, and the southmost and largest of the Irish counties; it is hilly with a great variety of surface; the coast is bold and rocky and there are many isles on the coast. He came from a family of farmers, who had pursued their vocation in the same parish for many generations. They were honest, industrious, clean- living people, who bequeathed to their
descendants an honorable name, good mentality and a splendid physical en- dowment, attributes that insure success in whatever calling is pursued. At about the age of twenty-three, Michael Long emigrated to the United States and located in the State of Connecticut, secur- ing employment on the farm of George Woodruff in Farmington. He was thrifty and prudent, capable and energetic, and in due course of time accumulated suffi- cient capital to purchase a farm of his own on the outskirts of Farmington, where he engaged in dairying and truck gardening, from which he received sub- stantial returns, and he so continued until his death which occurred in the year 1881, aged fifty-two years. In saving the requisite amount for the purchase of the land he had the cooperation of his wife, Margaret (Donahue) Long. who prior to her marriage was employed in the home of George Woodruff in Farmington. They were the parents of nine children : Dennis, deceased ; Michael, Jr., deceased ; Johanna, deceased; John C., of this review; Nellie, deceased; Jeremiah, de- ceased, married Mary E. Conlin and left one daughter, Margaret; Daniel, de- ceased; Timothy J., born January 23, 1871, partner of John C .; Mary A., who became the wife of Barney L. McGurk, and they are the parents of two children : Mary Margaret and Bernard L.
John C. Long was born in Farmington, Connecticut, November 19, 1861. He grew to manhood on the home farm, and his youth was passed in a similar man- ner to that of other boys reared in a rural environment. When not attending the district school he assisted with the work of the farm and later delivered milk to his father's customers in the city, all of which work tended to strengthen and improve his physical condition and bet- ter qualify him for the activities of life.
Conn-5-17
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In November, 1889, he took up his resi- dence in Hartford and purchased the interest of Oscar Gross in the partner- ship of William Tallcott, who was the proprietor of a restaurant, which was well patronized. The firm name was changed to Tallcott & Long, and this con- tinued until December 18, 1893, when Timothy J. Long, brother of John C. Long, purchased the interest of Mr. Tall- cott, and the firm name was changed to Long Brothers. In 1895 they took pos- session of their first building on State street, which they remodeled into a hotel. The following year they purchased a storehouse in the rear of their building, which they remodeled, and on May 20, 1897, opened the first addition to their hotel. From this fact it will be seen that the enterprise was successful from the very beginning. The business increased steadily and greatly, and on August II, 1903, Long Brothers purchased the Boardman property adjoining their hotel which enabled them to further increase their capacity for business. On January I, 1905, they purchased the Roswell Blod- gett property and this enabled them to add one hundred rooms to their hotel and gave them besides two stories, giving them a total capacity of two hundred and twenty rooms. In 1915 they purchased the property adjoining the Blodgett prop- erty known as the Clay block, containing six tenements and two stores; later they purchased the block known as the Peter Chute block containing twelve tenements and three stores. The National Exchange Bank building was the next purchase made by Long Brothers, which is now re- modeled at an expense of many thousands of dollars into a first-class American and Chinese restaurant, known as the Far East Garden, and enjoying large and suc- cessful patronage. In 1916 they purchsaed the old Exchange Bank property whereon
an addition to the hotel will be erected in the near future. The house con- ducted by the Long Brothers is one of the leading hostelries of Hartford, patron- ized by the traveling public, who appre- ciate quiet and refinement outside their own homes, and everything for the com- fort of the guests is provided for in a lav- ish manner, the table is furnished with the best the market affords, hence the popularity enjoyed by them. Mr. Long is a director of the New England Brew- ery, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Long married, June 24, 1900, Eliz- abeth Smith, daughter of Joseph Smith, of Hartford, Connecticut. They are well and favorably known in the community and enjoy the acquaintance of a wide cir- cle of friends, who appreciate their many sterling qualities of mind and heart.
RAWLINGS, William J., Representative Citizen.
A prominent citizen of New Britain, William J. Rawlings has won his way to a high place in the esteem of his fellow- townsmen by his own sterling American qualities. He is a business man of un- usual ability, and his services for the community-at-large have always been generous and unstinted. He was born in Berlin, Connecticut, in April, 1854, a son of Noah Rawlings, a native of England, who came to this country in 1850, and was a prominent farmer in Berlin, Con- necticut. Noah Rawlings married Ag- nes Brashure, and their children were: William J., of whom further; Alice, George, Lucy. Noah Rawlings died in 1882.
William J. Rawlings had the usual farın experience of a country boy, and was sent to Berlin Academy, after fin- ishing the course of which he came to
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Hany& Band
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New Britain, in 1870, and obtained a posi- tion with the Churchill & Lewis Com- pany, manufacturing jewellers, and here he worked for twenty-seven years. He had always taken a keen interest in the affairs of the municipality, and he was appointed deputy sheriff. He had been for twenty years a member of the Na- tional Guard of Connecticut, and in 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish War, he enlisted and was appointed first lieuten- ant in Company I, First Connecticut Reg- iment, and served throughout the war. His active interest in municipal affairs was acknowledged in 1900 by his appoint- ment as chief of police, which office he has held to the present time. Since 1873 Mr. Rawlings has been a member of the First Baptist Church. He has always been very much interested in fraternal associations, and on February 25, 1880, he joined Harmony Lodge. No. 20, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, and for eight years he was worshipful master. He served as secretary for twenty-six years. For five years he was district deputy of the fifth Masonic district. He is a charter member of the Phoenix Tem- ple, No. 19, which was instituted in Au- gust, 1876. He has held office in the State and in National organiations.
Mr. Rawlings married, June 27, 1877, Alice A. Keeney, daughter of William and Hannah Keeney, and their children are: I. Ernest B., born in New Britain, in 1891 ; married Genie Barns, of Helena, Montana, and they have one daughter, Carol. 2. Edette L.
BOND, Harry Slocomb, Hotel Proprietor.
Harry Slocomb Bond, secretary, treas- urer and managing director of the Hotel Bond Company, of Hartford, through the nature of his occupation is probably as
well known in that city as any man therein. He is, in fact, one of the leading hotel men of New England, and it fol- lows inevitably that his acquaintance would be of extremely broad scope, em- bracing all manner of men. The main factor in the upbuilding of Mr. Bond's success in business has been his genius, which amounts almost to a "sixth sense," in divining the wants of the public and in supplying their demands. There is nothing more fickle than the public taste, and catering to it is a vocation which demands keen perception and observa- tion, and a complete and sympathetic un- derstanding of human nature. It is a study to which, in the abstract, scientists and thinkers have devoted their lives, and which, in its actual and practical working out, is an important vocation. Mr. Bond's success in this line is universally conceded.
The Bond family are natives of Massa- chusetts. Thomas A. Bond, grandfather of Harry S. Bond, was born and lived his entire life in West Boylston, Massachu- setts. His active career was devoted to farming pursuits up to the time of his retirement. He married Harriet Slocomb. His death occurred in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
George Calvin Bond, son of Thomas A. and Harriet (Slocomb) Bond, was born in West Boylston, Massachusetts, in 1840. At the age of twenty-five he re- moved to Holden, Massachusetts, where he engaged in farming, continuing in this occupation until his death, which occurred in 1912. He married Abbie, daughter of Levi Holbrook, a descendant of an old family of West Boylston. Levi Holbrook was a distinguished citizen of that city, in which he was superintendent of the mills, and he also held the same position in Shirley village until his death. There were twelve children born to Mr. and
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