USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 32
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experience there gained much valuable and practical knowledge concerning professional duties. From 1908 until 1913 he practiced in Colchester and in March, 1913, he went abroad for further medical study, spending about fourteen months in the University of Vienna, where he did work of a special character in order to better qualify for the onerous and responsible duties of the profession. He left Hamburg, Germany, on his return trip July 20, 1914, just ten days before the present war was declared. In the fall of 1914 he entered upon a post graduate course in New York city which did not end until the spring of 1915. In October of the latter year he located in Torrington, where he opened an office and has since sucessfully followed his profession. He has been thoroughly trained in the best institutions of this country and also under the instruction of some of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world, and he took up his work in Torrington splendidly qualified therefor.
On the 4th of June, 1912, Dr. Tynan was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Sisk, of New London, Connecticut, and they have two children: Robert C., who was born Septem- ber 12, 1913; and James Gordon, born May 20, 1915. The parents are members of St. Francis Catholic church, while along strictly professional lines Dr. Tynan is connected with the Litchfield County, the Connecticut State and the American Medical Associations, thus keeping in close touch with the trend of modern professional thought and activity.
JOHN J. O'SULLIVAN.
John J. O'Sullivan, for sixteen years engaged in the grocery business in Waterbury, was born in Ireland, January 1, 1872, a son of Daniel and Catherine O'Sullivan, who came to Waterbury in 1893, following their children, John, Timothy and Ellen, who had crossed the Atlantic in 1887 and had established their home in Waterbury.
Not long after arriving in the new world John J. O'Sullivan, however, went to Southing- ton, Connecticut, where he remained for eleven years, being employed by L. D. Frost & Sons, bolt manufacturers of that place. On the 1st of November, 1899, he returned to Waterbury and was connected with the manufacturing establishment of Benedict & Burn- ham for about three years. He then again went to Southington, where he worked for six months for the Southington Cutlery Company. Once more he came to Waterbury and this time embarked in business on his own account, opening a small grocery store in December, 1901, at No. 581 Baldwin street. Later he removed to the McAvoy building on Baldwin street, remaining there from 1905 until January, 1915, when he came to his present location at No. 548 Baldwin street. He now has a well appointed store. carrying a large line of groceries, and his trade has steadily: developed.
On the 31st of October, 1916, Mr. O'Sullivan was married to Mrs. Margaret (Wallace) Hungerville, of Waterbury, who was born in Ireland. He belongs to St. Francis Catholic church, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Eagles and the Foresters. In politics he maintains an independent course. In January, 1915, he was elected alderman from the fifth ward and he is interested in all that pertains to local political condi- tions or that has to do with the management of community affairs.
JOHN HOADLEY ABBOTT.
John Hoadley Abbott, deceased, spent practically his entire life in Waterbury and built up a large business here as a painting contractor. He was born in North Haven, November 20, 1834, a son of Hiram Abbott, who was also a native of North Haven but became a resident of New Haven, his home being on Chapel street, where he died in 1840 while still in the prime of life. He married Nancy Johnson, a native of Waterbury, who after his death returned to Waterbury with her children. She spent the remainder of her life here and is buried in the Riverside cemetery. The two brothers of our subject were Dudley Hiram and Edward Payson, both now deceased.
John H. Abbott received but a limited education as he lost his father in childhood and was early compelled to carn his own living. On leaving New Haven he went to Middlebury, whence he came to Waterbury. For some time he worked in Scovill's factory, where he was employed in gilding buttons, and later he engaged in business on his own account as a painter contractor. He proved very successful in that connection, his natural artistic taste being an important factor in the building up of the large trade which he enjoyed. He gave employment to many men and ranked among the leaders in the city in his line. His
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experience there gained much valuable and practical knowledge concerning professional duties. From 1908 until 1913 he practiced in Colchester and in March, 1913, he went abroad for further medical study, spending about fourteen months in the University of Vienna, where he did work of a special character in order to better qualify for the onerous and responsible duties of the profession. He left Hamburg, Germany, on his return trip July 20, 1914, just ten days before the present war was declared. In the fall of 1914 he entered upon a post graduate course in New York city which did not end until the spring of 1915. In October of the latter year he located in Torrington, where he opened an office and has since sntcessfully followed his profession. He has been thoroughly trained in the best institutions of this country and also under the instruction of some of the nomet eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world, and he took up bi, work in Torrington hnulidly qualified therefor.
On the 4th of June, 1912, Dr. Trong was united in marriage . Mi- Gertrude Sisk, of New London, Connecticut, and the . 1
children : Robert whi was born Septem- ber 12. 1913; and James Gordon (. 20, 1915. The parents a number of St. Francis Catholic church, while alon rofessional lines Dr. Tynan wowcenested with the Litchfield County. the Groom That State and the American Mediaet Associations, thus keeping in close tone trend of modern professional thought and activity.
JOHN J. O'SULLIVAN.
lolmo soli ven. for sixteen years engaged in the grocery business in Waterbury, was bowl: from mary 1, 1872, a son of Daniel and Catherine O'Sullivan, who came to Waterbury in 1893, following their children, John, Timothy and Ellen, who had crossed the Atlantic in 1887 and had established their home in Waterbury.
Not long after arriving in the new world John J. O'Sullivan, however, went. to Southing- ton, Connectient, where he remained for eleven years, being employed by L. D. Frost & Sons, bolt manufacturers of that place. On the 1st of November, 1899, he returned to Waterbury and was connected with the manufacturing establishment of Benedict & Burn- ham for about three years. He then again went to Southington, where he worked for six Months for the Southington Cutlery Company. Once more he came to Waterbury and this umerot red in bu iness on his own account, opening a small grocery store in December, Inter he removed to the McAvoy building on Baldwin street. rem. mix ! Timmary. 1915, when he came to his present location
at No. 548 Baldwin .in.
1 appointed store. carrying a large line of
groceries, and his trade has
On the 31st of October, 1916, 1. 0 in we, to Mrs Margaret ( Wallace) Hungerville, of Waterbury, who was born 01 1. ja. ì tret Francis Catholic
.
church, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Onde the the fugles and the Foresters. In politics he mamitains an independent course by january 2315, he was elected alderman from the fifth ward and he is interested in all that pertains to local political condi- tions or that has to do with the management of commmuty affairs.
JOHN HOADLEY ABBOTT.
John Hoadley Abbott, deceased, spent practually his entire life in Waterbury and built hip a large business here as a painting contractor. He was born in North Haven, November w0. 1834, a son of Hiram Abbott, who was also " vative of North Haven but became a resident of New Haven. his home being on Chapel street where he died in 1840 while still in the prime of life. He married Nancy Johnson, a native of Waterbury, who after his death returned to Waterbury with her children. She spent the remainder of her life here and is buried in the Riverside cemetery. The two brothers of our subiect were Dudley Hiram and adward Payson, hoth now deceased.
Tobn H. Abbott received but a limited education as he lost his father in childhood and was early compelled to earn his own living. On leaving New Haven he went to Middlebury, whence he came to Waterbury. For some time I worked in Scovill's factory, where he was employed in gilding buttons, and later le . aged in business on his own account as a painter contractor. He proved very succe . n! in that connection, his natural artistic taste being an important factor in the building up of the large trade which he enjoyed. He gave employment to many men and ranked among the leaders in the city in his line. His
John H. Abbott
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place of business was on Holmes street adjoining his residence. He passed away November 8, 1912, and his remains were interred in Riverside cemetery.
On the 21st of October, 1857, Mr. Abbott was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Beach, of Waterbury, a daughter of Lucius and Rebecca (Welton) Beach. IIer father was born in Litchfield county, September 4, 1811, and in 1853 removed to Waterbury. He learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade and was for sixty years in the employ of the Scovill Manufac- turing Company, his name being still upon the pay roll at the time of his death on the 23d of July, 1895, when he was eighty-four years of age. He was buried in the Riverside cemetery, as was his wife, who died April 22, 1874, when sixty-six years old. To them were born two children: Mary J., now Mrs. Abbott, whose birth occurred June 18, 1839; and Juliette, who was born November 7, 1846, and is the deceased wife of Dennis Hawley, who has likewise passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Abbott a daughter was born, Mary Emma, who was educated in Waterbury, her native city. She became the wife of Charles A. Baldwin, who is the only son of Jared F. and Amelia (Flagg) Baldwin, the former for many years connected with the Waterbury Brass Company. Charles A. Baldwin was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, April 23, 1862, but received his education in the Waterbury schools. He is now employed by the American Brass Company of Waterbury, and he and his family reside with Mrs. Abbott at No. 74 Holmes avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have one son, Alfred Abbott.
Mr. Abbott was a republican and was staunch in his support of the policies of the party. He belonged to the Second Congregational church. He possessed considerable musical ability and for years was a member of the famous Tompkins Band of Waterbury, whose reputation extended throughout New England and which went to New York to take part in Lincoln's funeral in 1865. He was a man of domestic tastes and found his greatest pleasure in providing for the welfare and enjoying the society of his family. His wife sur- vives and is held in high esteem by those who know her. She is a consistent member of the Second Congregational church and is deeply interested in the furtherance of its work. The genuine worth of Mr. Abbott won him many friends and his memory is still cherished.
WILLIAM J. HOGAN. M. D.
With thorough college training and hospital experience to equip him for onerous pro- fessional duties, Dr. William J. Hogan entered upon the practice of medicine in Torrington in 1902 and since August, 1916, he has specialized in surgery, largely concentrating his efforts and attention upon that work. He was born in Torrington, June 22, 1875, being the youngest of the four children of John F. and Catherine (Carroll) Hogan. The father is a resident of Torrington, making his home at 320 Main street, but the mother passed away March 25, 1897. Both were natives of Ireland but were married in Torrington on the 24th of January, 1869. They had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, who are yet residents of Torrington, namely: Nellie Ann, now the wife of Thomas Scanlon ; Nora Margaret. the wife of John J. Dunne; John F., who is a clothing merchant of Torring- ton ; and Dr. Hogan of this review.
The last named began his education at the usual age as a pupil in the public schools and completed the high school course in Torrington with the class of 1894. He immediately afterward entered Yale University as a medical student and spent four years there in the pursuit of a most thorough course, winning his professional degree upon graduation with the class of 1898. With one exception he was the youngest member of the elass. being at that time twenty-three years of age. He afterward spent one year in the Hudson Street Hospital of New York city and also a year in Riverside Hospital of New York city. Later he was in the service of the health department of the metropolis and afterward became connected with the department of charities and spent one year and a half in that connection. being stationed in the Fordham Hospital of New York. In 1902 he returned to his native city, where he opened an office and continued steadily in the general practice of medicine and surgery until January, 1915. He then took up post graduate work in further preparation for surgical practice and until August, 1916. studied surgery in the New York Polyelinie Medical School and Hospital. At the latter date he resumed active practice in Torrington but has since specialized in surgery and is particularly skilled in that field. He is an attending surgeon at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital of Torrington. He has a thorough understanding of anatomy and the component parts of the human body. and of the on- slaughts made upon it by disease. and his thorough knowledge. his delicacy and precision of touch. his eahnness in the face of emergencies and his ready discrimination as to the value
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of methods have combined to make him one of the most capable young surgeons in this part of the state.
Dr. Hogan is a member of St. Francis Catholic church and belongs also to the Knights of Columbus and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He turns to motoring for recreation but he allows nothing to interfere with professional interests and duties and is a member of the Litchfield County, the Connecticut State and the American Medical Associations, thus keeping in touch with the trend of modern scientific thought and investi- gation.
RICHARD FORESTER.
Richard Forester is one of the more recent additions to the ranks of Waterbury's suc- cessful merchants and under the name of Forester & Company is engaged in handling all kinds of smart apparel for women. He was born in Cohoes, New York, and after acquiring a public school education entered into active connection with the wholesale dry goods business in New York in young manhood. He has since been active in that field and in 1914 he came from New York to Waterbury, where he established a store in connection with Louis F. Rockwell under the firm style of Rockwell & Forester. The new undertaking prospered from the beginning and the following year a second store was opened in Bridgeport under the same firm name. In 1916, however, the firm style was changed to Rockwell & Company of Bridgeport and Forester & Company of Waterbury. In March, 1917, a third store was opened in New London, Connecticut, under the old firm style of Rockwell & Forester. The Waterbury establishment is in the Lilley building at 103 West Main street, where they have a store thirty by one hundred and twenty feet, finished in white with mahogany trimmings. They carry. a large line of women's wear, receiving daily additions to their stock in sport suits, satin skirts, feather boas, fur neck pieces, blouses and also children's dresses and coats. Mr. Rockwell has charge of the Bridgeport establishment and Mr. Forester of the Waterbury store and they have become well known factors in commercial circles of Connecticut.
Mr. Forester has a wife and one son, Richard A., who is now assistant manager of the store at New London and bids fair to become a worthy successor of his father. whose progressiveness and enterprise in business have gained him high standing.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The parish of St. Augustine's Catholic church at Seymour was organized in 1885. The first baptisms, those of Charles Parsons and Helen Driscoll, occurred on the same day in September of that year. The parish was attended by John T. MeMahon, of Ansonia. In 1885 Rev. R. C. Gragan became resident priest and began the building of the present church, the corner stone of which was laid in 1888. In 1894 the Rev. Michael F. Rigney became pastor and served until 1910, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Augustus Leddy, who is still in charge. The parish now has over six hundred and fifty members and the church is one of the finest in the Naugatuck valley. In 1905 St. Michael's Catholic church was established at Beacon Falls by the Rev. M. F. Rigney and the priest from Seymour now has charge of that church.
WILLIAM L. HANLEY.
William L. Hanley is filling the office of postmaster at Thomaston and has occupied several other positions of public trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has dis- charged with promptness and fidelity, his course reflecting credit upon himself and proving highly satisfactory to his constituents. Thomaston numbers him among her native sons. He was born January 15, 1869, of the marriage of Michael and Mary (Lonergan) Hanley, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came to America, however, in early life and were married in this state. The father crossed the Atlantic in 1851 and for fifty years was in the employ of the Seth Thomas Clock Company-a record which stands in incontrovertible
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proof of his fidelity, loyalty and capability. He died in the year 1908, having long survived · his wife, who passed away in 1876.
William L. Hanley acquired a high school education in Thomaston and, starting out upon his business career, was first employed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company when fourteen years of age. He worked there throughout his active business career until his appointment as postmaster save for a short time in which he engaged in the shoe business. On the 1st of February, 1915, he was appointed postmaster of Thomaston and is now filling that position.
Mr. Hanley is well known as an active and prominent member of the Foresters, with which he has been identified for twenty-four years. He also belongs to the Heptasophs. In community affairs he takes an active interest and gives loyal support to the democratic party, with which he has voted since attaining his majority. He served as selectman for five years, has been a member of the school committee and was on the board of library directors. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is well known in Thomaston, where his entire life has been passed, and he has an extensive cirele of friends in the community in which he has always made his home.
CHARLES A. MCEVOY.
Charles A. McEvoy, deputy chief engineer of the Waterbury fire department, was born October 13, 1862, in the city where his entire life has been passed. ITis parents, Bernard and Mary (Gaffney) MeEvoy, were both natives of Ireland but were married after coming to the new world. They have now passed away but are survived by six of their children, two of whom, Charles and Edward, are now residents of Waterbury.
The public school system of his native city afforded Charles A. McEvoy his educational opportunities. He continued his studies to the age of fifteen years and then started out to provide for his own support, working in local factories for several years. In early man- hood, while still engaged in factory work. he became a member of the volunteer fire depart- ment and was appointed to the regular force on the 29th of June, 1897. Through the inter- vening period of twenty years he has been a representative of Waterbury's fire department and on the 6th of October, 1903, was promoted to the position of captain, while on the 1st of November, 1914, he beeame deputy chief engineer. He has since held this position, giving thorough satisfaction through the prompt and capable manner in which he discharges his duties. He has closely studied the best methods of fire fighting, is cool and collected in the face of danger and is thus able to do the best work in connection with the serviee.
Mr. McEvoy is identified with the Roman Catholic church. He was married in 1892 to Miss Catherine Carmody and they have become the parents of three children, Mary, Anna J. and Charles. The daughters are graduates of the high school and the son is now twelve years of age. Such in brief is the history of Mr. MeEvoy, whose long connection with the fire department of Waterbury has made him well known, while his promotions to his present position of trust and responsibility have been well merited.
GEORGE A. STOKES.
Among Waterbury's native sons who have become active as attorneys at the bar of Connectient, is George A. Stokes, who was born on the 1st of January, 1884, and is of Lithuanian descent, his parents having been born, reared and married in the province of Suwalki, Russia, of Lithuanian ancestry. They came to the United States in 1881 and after a short residenee in Pennsylvania removed with their family to Waterbury, where the parents and their four sons still reside, the father being now fifty-eight and the mother fifty-seven years of age. The four sons, Joseph S., John J., George A. and William P., are all interested jointly with the father in several important lines of business. Under the firm name of Stokes Brothers, the father and the four sons own and conduct a garage, a feed and grain business, a meat market, a grocery store and a eafe, and in addition George A. Stokes engaged in the practice of law. The designated business en- terprises of the family are located at Nos. 692-701 North Riverside street and all of the buildings and real estate belong to the family. The father, who is now in comfortable eireumstances and is practically living retired, was for many years employed in the local brass factories and in 1893, during the widespread financial panie of that year when the
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factories closed down and work was scarce, he purchased a fifty acre farm near the city. Later he sold the same and returned to the city, again taking up factory work, but he . abandoned it to embark in a retail business. Of the sons Joseph S. and John J. were born in Russia while the other two are natives of Waterbury. Joseph conducts the cafe, John the garage, meat market and grocery store and William manages the grain and feed busi- ness, while the father is general overseer of all.
George A. Stokes was educated in the Waterbury public schools and following his gradu- ation from the high school with the class of 1902, entered the Vanderbilt University at Nash- ville, Tennessee, where he completed a three years law course and was graduated with the LL. D. degree in 1905. He was then licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee on the 28th of July, 1905, but afterward spent a year at Yale for further training in his chosen profession. In January, 1908, he was admitted to the bar of Connecticut and has since practiced in Waterbury with much success. He is one of two Lithuanian lawyers in this city.
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On the 14th of August, 1916, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Quinn, a teacher in the public schools of Waterbury, who was born in the town of Scotland of Irish parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, and fraternally he is connected with the Elks, while politically he is a democrat. It is character- istic of the family that they have made good use of their time and opportunities, and George A. Stokes is winning as creditable a position in professional circles as his brothers have gained in the commercial field.
REV. CHARLES AUGUSTUS LEDDY.
Rev. Charles Augustus Leddy, pastor of St. Augustine's Catholic church, was born in Kensington, New Haven county, Connecticut, August 18, 1862, a son of Thomas and Ellen (O'Brien) Leddy, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The mother with her three sisters came to the new world when she was but four years of age, the family home being established in New Britain, Connecticut. The father was a son of James Leddy, who brought his family to the United States when the son Thomas was but nine years of age, this being in the early '50s. He located at Mount Carmel, near New Haven, and there reared his family of fourteen children.
Rev. Leddy of this review was the eldest in a family of eight children. He attended the public schools of New Haven and afterward became a student in St. Charles' College at Baltimore, Maryland, while later he entered St. Bonaventure College in New York in preparation for the priesthood. He was ordained at St. John's Seminary in Boston and for six years occupied the position of assistant pastor in St. Patrick's church in Hartford. He was also stationed at the Sacred Heart church in Bridgeport for six years and for a year and a half was at St. Mary's church in New Britain. He then became pastor of St. George's church in Guilford, Connecticut, where he remained for three and a half years, and for six and a half years was pastor of St. Patrick's church in Mystic, Connecticut. He has been located in Seymour since August 1, 1910. and under his direction St. Augustine's Catholic church has made steady progress, the work being well organized along various lines.
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