History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 70

Author: Burpee, Charles W. (Charles Winslow), b. 1859
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1390

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III > Part 70

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(Photograph by Dunne)

SIDNEY E. STOCKWELL

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nien. Just, tactful and considerate, he has won the confidence and respect of the com- pany's employes, as well as their friendship, and participates in their councils and enterprises, maintaining a deep and helpful interest in all institutional activities.

In Lewiston, Maine, Mr. Stockwell married Miss Alice Sands, a direct descendant of William Bradford, the first governor of Massachusetts, and they have become the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth Bradford and Eleanor Sands. In addition to their Hartford residence, Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell have an attractive summer home at At- lantic Beach, Rhode Island.

Mr. Stockwell is a thirty-second degree Mason and belongs to Franklin Lodge of Bristol and Sphinx Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Hartford. He is a member of the Connecticut and West Hartford Chambers of Commerce, the Exchange Club of Hartford, the West Hartford Country Club, the Engineers Club of Hartford, the Endee Club of Bristol, and is an ex-president of the West Hartford Manufacturers Associa- tion.

PETER WILLIAM FOX, M. D.

Among those who have chosen medical and surgical practice as a life work and are capably and successfully following the profession in New Britain is numbered Dr. Peter William Fox, a native son of this city, born February 11, 1886, his parents being Peter and Mary E. (Callahan) Fox. At the usual age he became a public school pupil and when he had completed the high school course he entered the Uni- versity of Vermont as a medical student, winning his professional degree in 1911. From that time until 1912 he was interne in the Fannie Allen Hospital at Wenooski, Vermont, and gained valuable experience in hospital practice. In the latter year he removed to New Britain, where he opened an office, and through the intervening period of sixteen years he has continued here, his practice steadily growing in volume and importance as he has given proof of his ability to cope with the intricate problems of health and to stay the ravages of disease. In addition to his private practice he is an assistant on the surgical staff of the New Britain General Hospital.

Dr. Fox is a past grand of the Knights of Columbus organization at New Britain. During the World war he served on the draft board and he has always manifest his interest in the public welfare by his endorsement of plans and projects for the general good, measuring up to high standards of manhood and citizenship as well as to the requisite demands of professional activity. He belongs to the various medical socie- ties, including the city, county, state and American medical associations, and thus he is thoroughly conversant with all that modern practice and research have brought to light concerning the laws of health.

NICOLA PALLOTTI

Connecticut acknowledges her indebtedness to many of her citizens of Italian birth, but to none does Hartford more fully accord honor and respect than to Nicola Pallotti, who for many years was a valued resident here. He made for himself an honored name and place in business circles and his life illustrated what could be accomplished through industry, perseverance and individual ability. With the pass- ing years he won notable success through his operations in real estate until his for- tune ranked him with the foremost men of affluence in his adopted city. He was born in Corleto, Perticara, Italy, April 28, 1839, his parents being Francesco and Anna (Antonio) Pallotti, the family having for many generations been residents of that section of Italy. In early manhood Nicola Pallotti left his native land to become a resident of the United States, arriving in Hartford in 1866, when twenty-seven years of age. Obstacles and difficulties confronted him, for he was unacquainted with the language and customs of the people among whom he cast his lot and, moreover, he had no capital to enable him to gain a start in the new world. Industry and thrift, however, were numbered among his characteristics and in course of time his labor and his economy brought him sufficient capital to enable him to make a small investment in real estate. This he successfully handled and he constantly broadened

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his activities in that field until success in large measure rewarded him and he ranked as the wealthiest citizen of Hartford of Italian birth.

Outside of business his interest centered in his family and he never sought to figure in public life. He married Marie Antonia, a daughter of Giambattisto Demma, and they became parents of the following named who reached maturity: Felicia, the wife of Antonio Andretta; Brighetta, wife of Nicola de Pietro, of Hartford; and Francis A., who is mentioned at length on another page of this publication. The father passed away November 1, 1914. Nicola Pallotti always found his great- est happiness in ministering to those at his own fireside. His leisure hours were spent in the companionship of his family and his delight in his success was the fact that it enabled him to provide generously for his wife and children. His record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished through individual effort combined with a recognition of oppor- tunity and the intelligence to wisely use the chances offered.

JAMES B. MADIGAN

James B. Madigan, operating successfully in the field of real estate and insurance, with offices at 223 Main street, Wethersfield, was born in Hartford, March 4, 1877, and is a son of Michael and Bridget (Smith) Madigan, who were natives of Ireland but in early life crossed the Atlantic and settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Both have now passed away.

Reared in his native city, James B. Madigan pursued his education in St. Pat- rick's parochial school and in Huntsinger's Business College. After his textbooks were put aside he was employed in various ways, devoting some time to mercantile pursuits and going upon the road as traveling representative for business houses. At the time of the World war he enlisted with the Knights of Columbus overseas organi- zation as a secretary and was located in the Argonne section for a part of the time and was also at Men-il-la-Tour. He was connected with the Twenty-eighth Division of the Connecticut National Guard.

With his return to the United States, Mr. Madigan was mustered out in New York and again came to Wethersfield, where he has since devoted his attention to the real estate and insurance business. He now has a good clientele and is making steady advancement in his chosen field. He has thoroughly studied the real estate situation, knows the property that is upon the market and is able to place a correct valuation upon realty placed in his hands for exchange. His high standing as a business man is shown in the fact that he was elected to the presidency of the Wethersfield Business Men's and Civic Association.

In community affairs Mr. Madigan has taken an active and helpful interest and he is now serving as chairman of the town plan commission of Wethersfield, seeking to develop a system whereby the city's growth shall be along the most practical and worthwhile lines and will at the same time promote its beauty. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He likewise belongs to the City Club and makes his home in Wethersfield.

FREDERICK WILSON MACOMBER

On the roll of resourceful and successful bankers in Hartford county appears the name of Frederick Wilson Macomber, who has occupied the position of treasurer of the New Britain Trust Company since 1920. From his boyhood days he has been identified with financial interests and is today an outstanding figure in banking circles. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1882, his parents being Frederick Alton and Lillie Melissa (Wilson) Macomber, who spent their entire lives in Northampton, where the father passed away in March, 1922, while the mother passed away in the fall of the same year. He was well known as president of the Hampshire County Trust Company of Northampton and remained very active in financial circles until his death. He also took a keen interest and helpful part in politics as a supporter of the republican party and he held several elective offices,

(Photograph by The Johnstone Studio)

JAMES B. MADIGAN

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HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

including that of member of the city council. He was a loyal representative of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Masonic fraternity and in the latter attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he crossed the sands of the desert. He belonged to the Edwards church and his life was ever actuated by high and honorable principles which made him a man whom to know was at all times to esteem and respect. The daughter of the family, Bertha May Macomber, is now living in New York.

Frederick W. Macomber has displayed in his life many of the sterling qualities of his Scotch ancestry. He obtained a public school education and then resolutely faced life with its problems and its opportunities, turning his attention to the field of finance, in which he has since continued his labors, advancing step by step to prom- inence. He began as a runner with the Hampshire County Trust Company when a boy of but eighteen years and on leaving that corporation obtained a position in the Home National Bank at Holyoke, the predecessor of the Hadley Falls Trust Com- pany, in which he served as bookkeeper from 1902 until 1906. In the latter year he entered the Mechanics National Bank as bookkeeper and remained with the insti- tution after it merged with the City Hardware Trust Company in 1907. He has acted successively as bookkeeper, receiving teller, paying teller and assistant treas- urer. In 1920 he was made treasurer of the New Britain Trust Company and has continuously served in that official connection to the present time. From his boyhood days he has been identified with banking interests and there is no phase of the busi- ness with which he is not thoroughly familiar, for he has applied himself closely to the tasks at hand and his ready adaptability has enabled him to find successful solu- tion for intricate financial problems. He is a director as well as treasurer of the New Britain Trust Company and he enjoys in unqualified measure the respect and confi- dence of his brethren of the banking fraternity.

In 1907 Mr. Macomber was married to Miss Elsie Kohler, of Easthampton, Mas- sachusetts. They are members of the South church of New Britain and Mrs. Macomber belongs to the Woman's Club and is interested in all that makes for in- tellectual and cultural progress in the community. Mr. Macomber has membership in the Lions Club, of which he is treasurer, in the Shuttle Meadow Golf Club and in the Chamber of Commerce, while in Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and in public affairs he is actively and helpfully interested. He served as chairman of the fire board of New Britain in 1922 and also as a member of the finance board. He never withholds his support from any measure which he deems of vital worth to the community and his cooperation has been an important element in general progress and improvement here as well as in the conduct of the important banking interests with which he is now associated as treasurer.

GEORGE J. LA COURSE

For a quarter of a century George J. La Course has been intimately associated with building operations in Bristol, his native city, and as one of its self-made men he stands deservedly high in public esteem. A son of Leon and Euphemia La Course, he was born December 10, 1880, and received a limited education. When a boy of twelve he began to provide for his own livelihood, entering the employ of the New Departure Company of Bristol, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a car- penter. He mastered the trade and in 1900 entered the field of contracting, organ- izing the G. L. La Course Company, of which he has since been the executive head. Choosing only skilled craftsmen, he closely supervises their labors and no detail of the work is ever slighted. A well merited reputation for reliability and efficiency has brought Mr. La Course many important contracts and his contribution to Bristol's growth and improvement includes a large number of churches, schools, business blocks, residences and other substantial buildings. He is a director of the Bristol National Bank and also of the American Trust Company.

On October 16, 1907, Mr. La Course was married in this city to Miss Mary C. Murray and they now have three children-George John, Jeanne Marie and Ellaine Murray. Mr. La Course is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church and his

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fraternal connections are with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Stable in purpose and energetic and decisive in action, he has trans- formed his dreams into realities and in the development of his business he has ren- dered service of direct value to the city in which his life has been spent.

THOMAS HOLT

Thomas Holt, dairy and food commissioner of Connecticut, with offices in Hart- ford, was born in Littleboro, Lancashire, England, January 21, 1863, and his parents, John and Alice (Fletcher) Holt, were also natives of Littleboro, where the father conducted business as a dairyman. Both he and his wife passed away in England.

After pursuing a public school education in his native place Thomas Holt worked on the home farm, engaging in the dairy business with his father, and at the same time he learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of his brother William. Thinking to have better business opportunities in America, he started alone for this country in 1882, when a youth of nineteen years, and landed at Boston on the 4th of July of that year. From there he proceeded to Fall River, Massachusetts, where he worked at his trade for six months, and later he went to what is now the state of South Dakota, where he took up a claim of three hundred and twenty acres of gov- ernment land on which he engaged in raising cattle and wheat. For four years he remained in the west and then, tiring of the climate, he disposed of his business and property there and went to the south but in 1895 disposed of his business there and retraced his steps northward as far as New York. For a year he leased a farm at Worcester and in 1895 he located at Southington in Hartford county, Connecticut, where he purchased land and conducted a dairy farm, having one hundred and forty head of cows, the milk being retailed at Bristol. He remained there for twenty-three years, concentrating his efforts and attention upon the development of his business. For almost a quarter of a century he continued at Southington, when seeing the oppor- tunity for an advantageous change, he sold this farm in 1918 and purchased his present farm in Newington, where he carries on an extensive dairy business. He also owns a farm at Canton, Connecticut, of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he raises heifers to replenish his cows. He has advanced far beyond the ordinary dairy farmer in the extent of his interests and in the methods which he employs, his activities being conducted along the most modern and progressive lines.

In public affairs Mr. Holt has always taken a deep and helpful interest. He served for one term as assessor of the town of Southington and for five years filled the office of first selectman. In 1914 he was appointed deputy dairy commissioner and on the death of F. H. Stadtmueller in January, 1918, he was appointed commissioner by Governor Holcombe to fill out the unexpired term, while on the 1st of May, 1918, he was reappointed for the regular four years' term, again was named for the office by Governor Lake on the 1st of May, 1922, and once more by Governor Trumbull on the 1st of May, 1926, so that he is the present incumbent in this position and is prov- ing a very efficient officer. He is certainly well qualified for the position by reason of his own broad and practical experience and is thus wisely able to direct operations along that line and advise concerning methods which make for steady advancement in connection with the dairy industry. Aside from his present position Mr. Holt is a member of the finance commission of the town of Newington and likewise is a member of the town plan commission, having served on both commissions since their creation, doing very effective work in behalf of public welfare. In 1926 he was elected president of the Association of Dairy, Food and Drug Officials of the United States and he is a director of the Connecticut Dairy and Food Council.

On the 10th of October, 1884, at Bristol, South Dakota, Mr. Holt was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Hurst, daughter of James and Ellen Hurst, of Littleboro, England. They became the parents of three children, namely: Mary Alice, the wife of James C. Gilbert of Newington, where the latter is serving as first selectman; John William, who was born at Worcester, New York, in 1895 and is now engaged in the dairy business at Newington; and George, who is managing his father's dairy farm. Mrs. Holt passed away October 29, 1927.

Mr. Holt is a member of the Newington Grange and is well known in fraternal connections, having membership in Friendship Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., of South- ington, and in Harmony Chapter, O. E. S., of that place. He likewise belongs to

(Photograph by Sterling)

THOMAS HOLT

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William Berry Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and to Stephen Terry Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Bristol. He has always been a stalwart repub- lican and is a member of the Hartford Republican Club and of the Hartford Auto- mobile Club.

JAMES JUNIUS GOODWIN

Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distin- guished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. Such was the record of James Junius Goodwin, whose forebears rendered distinguished service to New England and who in his own career contributed in notable measure to the material development and the moral progress of Hartford and the state. The first of the name in the new world was Ozias Goodwin, who came from England prob- ably on the ship "Lion," which reached Boston, September 12, 1632. He married Mary Woodward, daughter of Robert Woodward, of Braintree, England, and as early as 1639 became a resident of Hartford, where he died in April, 1683, leaving two sons, William and Nathaniel, and a daughter, Hannah. The son Nathaniel was born about 1637, was admitted a freeman by the general court of Connecticut in October, 1662, and was one of the "townsmen" of Hartford in 1669, 1678 and 1682. His wife, Sarah Coles, a daughter of John and Hannah Coles of Hatfield, Massachusetts, and formerly of Farmington, Connecticut, died May 8, 1676, and Nathaniel Goodwin aft- erward married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Pratt, of Hartford. He had three chil- dren-Nathaniel, Sarah and John-by his first marriage and four-Samuel, Hannah, Ozias and Elizabeth-by the second marriage. Of these Ozias Goodwin, who was born in Hartford, June 26, 1689, inherited from his father the homestead on Village street which he owned until 1764. He held various local offices, as found in the rec- ords of those early days, and he was a deacon of the First church from January 1, 1756, until his death January 26, 1776. He was married June 6, 1723, to Martha Williamson, who was born February 13, 1700, a daughter of Captain Caleb and Mary (Cobb) Williamson, who removed from Barnstable, Massachusetts, to Hartford. Martha (Williamson) Goodwin died February 8, 1777. The youngest of her five children was Jonathan Goodwin, born in Hartford and baptized March 17, 1733-34. He was married November 26, 1761, to Eunice Olcott, born October 3, 1736, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Eunice (Collier) Olcott, of Hartford, and a descendant of Thomas Olcott, one of the original settlers of Hartford. Jonathan Goodwin was a corporal of the Hartford train-band, which performed escort duty to the governor, and he owned land on the north side of Albany road that for many generations has been in posses- sion of the family. He died September 2, 1811, and his wife on March 23, 1807. Their children were Eunice, Jerusha and James, of whom James was born December 27, 1777, in Hartford. He inherited the property on Albany road, living thereon from 1783 until his death September 13, 1844. He was first lieutenant of the First Com- pany, Governor's Foot Guard, in 1807, and became captain in 1809. His wife, Eunice Roberts, was born in Wintonbury, August 22, 1774, a daughter of Captain Lemuel and Ruth (Woodford) Roberts and a descendant of John Roberts, who became a resident of Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1688. Eunice Goodwin died August 13, 1825. They were married in Wintonbury, now Bloomfield, Connecticut, March 3, 1799, and their chil- dren were Jonathan, James and Mary J.

The second Major James Goodwin was born in the old family home long known as Goodwin's Tavern, March 2, 1803, and thence went to Morgan's Tavern on State street, the proprietor of that hotel being Joseph Morgan, father of Junius S. Morgan, the famous London banker. The tavern was the stopping place of the New York and Boston stages and was much frequented by business men. Mr. Goodwin was soon made stage agent and eventually became the owner of the stage line. He was chosen to carry President Jackson's first message through to Boston from New York, which he did in what was then an incredibly short time. He had various mail contracts and did an extensive stage business, but foresaw the coming of railroads and aban- doned his stage interests between 1835 and 1840, thereafter devoting himself to in- surance and other interests. He was president of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insur- ance Company and a director of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Farmers and Mechanics National Bank, Connecticut Trust Company, Hartford Carpet Company,

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Gatling Gun Company, Collins Company, Connecticut River Company, Hartford & Wethersfield Horse Railroad Company and Holyoke Water Power Company. He acted as vice president of the Hartford Hospital and assisted many charitable or- ganizations. He became a large real estate owner and at one time his tax assess- ment exceeded that of any other Hartford man. He earned his title as major by several years' service as commandant of the Governor's Horse Guard. He was a member and vestryman of Christ church and it is said that his life was an exposition of patience, kindliness, tact, justice and even balance as well as of business ability. He was married July 30, 1832, to Lucy Morgan, born at West Springfield, Massa- chusetts, February 4, 1811, and daughter of Joseph and Sally (Spencer) Morgan. Her life, which was the exemplification of Christian virtues and true womanliness, ended September 19, 1890.

James Junius Goodwin, eldest son and second child of Major and Lucy (Morgan) Goodwin, was born September 16, 1835, in Hartford, and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the grade and high schools started out in the business world, being employed in Hartford from 1851 until 1857, after which he spent eight- een months in travel and study abroad. In 1859 he entered the employ of William A. Sale & Company, East India and China shipping merchants of New York, with whom he remained until 1861, when in September of that year he became a partner of his cousin, J. Pierpont Morgan, who a few months before had established a foreign bank- ing business as New York agent of his father, Junius S. Morgan, of London. This partnership continued when the firm became Dabney, Morgan & Company and through its merger into Drexel, Morgan & Company, July 1, 1871. Mr. Goodwin then with- drew and after 1878 largely gave his time in connection with his brother to the management of their father's estate. He was a director of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company and other important business concerns of Hartford and was a director of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad from its reorganization in 1878 until his demise. He also had important business connections in New York, where he also maintained a residence.

It was in Philadelphia, on June 19, 1873, that James J. Goodwin married Josephine Sarah Lippincott, who was born in that city December 31, 1850, she being the only daughter of Joshua Ballanger and Josephine (Craige) Lippincott. Her ancestral line is traced back to Richard Lippincott, who was a resident of Massachusetts as early as 1640, and was one of the patentees of the first English settlement of New Jersey in 1665. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin had a family of four children: Walter L., mentioned elsewhere in this work; Harold, who died in infancy; James L., born October 10, 1881; and Philip L., March 14, 1885.

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History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 70

Author: Burpee, Charles W. (Charles Winslow), b. 1859 Publication date: 1928 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Burpee, Charles W. (Charles Winslow), b. 1859
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1390