PATRICK T. COOGAN, proprietor of a pros-
perous grocery store in Waterbury, is a native of Ire
land, born July 16, 1847, in County Kilkenny.
Joseph Coogan, father of our subject, also a.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1135
i:ativc of that county, was a farmer there, as was
liis father before him. John Coogan, an nnclc of
our subject, was a physician in Ireland. Joseph
Coofjan married Catherine Clancy, of the same na-
tivity, and five children were born to them: Mar-
garet, Thoina.s, Patrick T., Annie and Joseph. Of
these, Margaret, deceased, was the wife of John
Brcnnan, who lives in Ireland; Thomas lives on the
homestead in Ireland ; Annie, deceased, was the wife
of John Lawlor. of Waterbury ; Joseph is a ma-
chinist in riiiladelphia.
Patrick T. Coogan received his education in his
native land, and at an early age came to the United
States, first locating in Schuylkill county, Pa., where
lie followed mining about fifteen years. At the end
of that time he came to Waterbury, Conn., and for
twelve years was employed in various departments
of the brass works, then engaging in his present
grocery and litiuor business, at Xo. 34 Washington
street, in which he has met with the most desirable
success. In the city he has put up quite a few build-
ings, which he rents.
On May 9, 1865. Mr. Coogan married Mary A.
Burns, who was of Pennsylvanian birth, and thirteen
children were born to them, of whom the following
are living: Catherine, Patrick, Bridget, Margaret,
Annie, Nellie, Elizal)eth, James J., Thomas, Joseph
and Lorctta. Of this interesting family, liridget is
higlily accomplished in nuisic, and is the leading or-
ganist in the church. The mother died Jan. 12,
1898. On Nov. 22, 1900, Mr. Coogan wedded
Mary Dehill, who was born in County Cork, Ire-
land, and they have one child, Cornelius. Our sub-
ject is attiliated with the Foresters 01 America; in
religious faith he is a member of St. P>ancis Xavier
Catholic Church.
ROGER CONNOR, manager of the Water-
bury Base Ball Club, and a successful player of na-
tional reputation, resides in Waterbury, and is a
native of that city, born Julv i. 1857.
Mortimer Connor, father of our subject, was
iMirii in County Kerry, Ireland, a son of Daniel
Connor, a native of the same county, and a weaver
by trade. He came to the Cnited States, locating
first in Albany, N. Y., later in Waterbury. Conn.,
where he died. Mortimer was a young man when
he came to America, settling in Waterbury. where
he followed the trade of blacksmithing up to his
death, which occurred about twenty-five years ago.
In that city he married Catherine Sullivan, also a
native of Ireland, daughter of Dennis Sullivan, who
was a butcher, followed his trade in the old coun-
try, and died there. To Mortimer Connor and his
wife were born eleven children, as follows; Roger
is the subject of these lines ; Daniel is in the liquor
business in Waterbury; Dennis is a mechanic in
Waterbury ; Mathew's whereabouts are not known ;
Mortimer died in 1898; Joseph is a member of the
Bridgeport B. B. C. ; Hannah married Robert Wil-
son, and thev live in New York; Mary married
Jeremiah Slattery, of Waterbury ; Ellen is the wife
of Lawrence Rubanna, of New York ; Julia ( i) and
Julia (2) both died young. The mother of these
is yet living.
Roger Connor attended the local schools of
Waterbury until he was seventeen years old, and
then commenced learning the trade of blacksmith
with his father, working on Dix Island, Maine,
where the stone for the New York postofifice build-
ing was quarried. He was there some eighteen
months, and on his return home connnenced "play-
ing ball" with the Monitor Base Ball Club, work-
ing in the factories in winter time. This was in
1875-76-77. In 1878 he went to New Bedford and
played with the club there ; was also with the Holy-
oke Nine, American Association, and was captain
of that team in 1879. In the following year he went
til I'roy, N. Y., and played in the League three
seasons — 1880-81-82; then signed with the New
York Club, and remained with them until 1891.
In 1892 he went to Philadcl]ihia, and played with
the club there in 1893; returned to New York and
played with the club there, 1894 ; fall of that year
went with the St. Louis team, and played with them
three seasons, during the last year being their cap-
tain. In 1897 lie went to Fall River, Mass., and
had charge of the team there that sea.son, in the fol-
lowing year returning to Waterbury, where he has
since managed and played with the Waterbury Club.
On June 15, 1882, ^Ir. Connor married Angelina
Mayer, of Oneonta, N. Y.. daughter of Jacob Mayer,
a native of Germany. Two children have been born
to this union, Cecelia and Mary ; the last named
died at the age of one year. As was his father be-
fore him, Mr. Connor is a Democrat.
IT.VRRY I. CR.AMPTON. the well-known and
efticient assistant superintendent of the Goodyear
Metallic Rubber Shoe Co.. of Naugatuck, was born
in Waterbury Feb. 12, i860, and belongs to an old
Connecticut family probably of English descent.
His grandfather, Jesse Crampton, was a native of
Madison. New Haven county, and was a tanner
and currier by trade. He filled the office of justice
of the peace and was quite a prominent man in his
community. He married Ruth Bradley, and con-
tinued to make his home in Madison. His children
were Jonathan, father of our subject; Samuel, who
is living retired in Madison ; Henrietta, deceased
wife of Samuel Griswold, of New Haven ; Will-
iam, a farmer and manufacturer of Madison, now
deceased ; and George, a carpenter of Madison.
Jonathan R. Crami)ton was born in Madison in
1809, and in early life engaged in school teaching
in -New York State and Ohio. Subsequently he
was employed as a bookkeeper in New York City,
and still later conducted a woolen mill in Water-
ville. Conn. He was also internal revenue collector
for some years, and was an ardent Republican in
]iolitics. Honored and respected bv all who knew
him, he passed away in Waterbury, in 1873. He
1 1 36
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
married Susan Starkey. a native of Essex, Conn.,
and a tlautjhter of Richard Starkey, who was a
ship carpenter by trade. She is still living and
now makes her home in New Haven.
Harry I. Cranipton is sixth in the order of birth
in a family of seven children, the others being as
follows: William, deceased, was employed bv the
Goodyear India Rubber Glove Co., of Xaugatuck ;
Ella died in infancy: Charles is station agent at
Branford, Conn.: Emma died in infancy; George
is a machinist and engraver for the Goodyear Me-
tallic Rubber Shoe Co.. of Naugatuck : and How-
ard is employed in the office of a ribbon manufactory
of New York.
The education of Harry I. Crampton was ob-
tained in the public schools of Waterbury, where
he pursued his studies until thirteen years of age,
and then entered a real estate office in that place,
where he was employed for three years. He next
engaged in house and sign nainting until the fall
of 1880, when he came to Xaugatuck and entered
the office of the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe
Co., with which he has since been connected with
the exception of two years from 1886 to 1888. He
has worked his way steadily upward from office boy
to his present responsible position, that of assist-
ant superintendent.
Mr. Crampton was married. May 3, 1883, to
Miss Mary Schenck, of Waterbury, a daughter of
John Schenck, who came from New Jersey and was
of German extraction. They have one child,
Charles. Mr. Crampton was reared in the Congre-
gational Church, to which his ancestors all be-
longed. He i's a member of the Knights of Pythias
and the Improved Order of Red Men at Naugatuck,
and aft'diates with the Republican party. For twen-
ty years he has been a resident of Naugatuck, and
is not only highly esteemed by his fellow citizens,
but has the confidence and respect of the company
with which he has long been connected, as" is at-
tested by his frequent promotions and hh appoint-
ment to the important position which he is now so
creditably and satisfactorily filling.
FREDERICK M. STEVENS has in his influ-
ential and useful career aided materiallv in making
the enviable reputation which Waterburj^ enjoys.
He has mastered his business, and knows all its
details, and those for whom he works have everv
confidence in his honesty and ability. Important
responsibilities are placed upon him, and never has
he failed to meet the expectations of ability and in-
tegrity.
Mr. Stevens was born in Danbury, Conn., son
of Charles T. Stevens, and passed his early days
in his native place, where he was a student in the
public school. The scene of his first labor when
he left school to care for himself was the Pacific
Iron Works, at Bridgeport, this State. To prepare
himself adcf|uately for a successful career in the in-
dustrial world the young man went to Cornell L'ni-
I versity, in the State of New York, where he studied
mechanical engineering for three years. In 1875
Mr. Stevens came to Waterbury, and in company
with A. S. Cpson for a time manufactured sewing
machine needles. After this the Waterbury Needle
Co. was formed, and Mr. Stevens became secretary
of the concern. When this bouse passed out of
business he associated himself with W. G. Creamer
& Co., and was superintendent of their factory in
Brooklyn. In the development and management
of several other enterprises Mr. Stevens was active-
ly interested until he came back to Waterbury. in
1890, in which year he was made sunerintendent of
the Mathews & Willard Manufacturing Co., and is
still engaged in that capacity.
Mr. Stevens and Miss Cornelia M. Upson were
married June i, 1875. Mrs. Stevens was born in
Farmington, but has always lived in Waterbury.
Mr. Stevens is a Republican in political oi)inion.
Fraternally he belongs to Conunonwealth Lodge,
No. 409, F. & A. M., of Brooklyn, and to Townsend
Lodge, I. O. O. F.. of Waterbury. He attends the
Second Congregational Church, to which his family
belong.
SAMUEL PARMELEE WILLIA.MS, a prom-
inent real-estate and instn"ance man of Waterbury,
and doing an extensive loan business as well, sus-
tains a fine reputation for probity and ability. Mr.
Williams was horn in Litchfield, Conn., Aug. 8,
1846, son of Robert Williams, who was born in
Watertown, Connecticut.
Samuel Williams, his great-grandfather, was â–
born in Berlin, Conn., and engaged in farming in I
that locality, becoming an extensive land owner.
He was a representative of a family that had mi-
grated to Connecticut from Koxbury, Mass., many
members of whom have held high place and proven
themselves men of more than ordinary ability and
standing.
William Russell Williams, the grandfather of
Samuel P., was born in Berlin, Conn., and there
grew to manhood. He served as a private in the
war of 1812. By his marriage with Rebecca
Castle he had a family of eight children, as follows:
(i) Adeska, who married Allan Castle, a farmer
in Watertown; (2) Robert, the father of Samuel
P- : (3) William, a farmer in the town of Litch-
field, Conn., where he died; (4) Betsey, who mar-
ried Sheldon Morris, of Bridgeport: (5) Amelia,
who married liennett Perry, an employe of the
Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co., at Bridge-
port; (6) Sanniel, a merchant at Cincinnati, Ohio,
where he died; (7) Mary, who married James
Canfield, a wholesale grocer; and (8) Abbie, who
married Henry Neal, a mechanic of Litchfield. Mr.
Williams was a fanner and cattle dealer.
Robert Williams, the fatiier of Sanniel P.. was
born in 1810, and died in Litchfield, Conn,, at the
age of eightv-onc. He was a tailor for sixty years
in the latter place. At the time the "Astor Ilouse"
'^i/2^
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1137
was beinj; built in New York City, and its pro-
prietor, John Jacob Astor, was incurring consider-
able ridicule tor buildinij .-o far out of town, Mr.
Williams was in that city learninn; his trade. He
married Helen E. Trowbridj^e, who was born in
Litchfield, daughter of James Trowbridge. She
died in Waterhury. The Trowbridge family is of
English origin, and for many years has been lo-
cated in this State. Mr. and .Mrs. Robert Will-
iams were tlie parents of four children: Helen,
who died at the early age of twenty-one; William
1\., connected with the Waterbury llrass Co. ;
Charles 1'., who died in 1873, an employe of the
Miller & I'eck Ury Goods Co. for many years ;
I and Samuel 1'.
I Sanuiel 1". Williams spent the first nineteen
i years of his life in Litchfield, and on leaving his
home secured a position with Cowles & Leete,
wholesale druggists at Xew Haven. For two years
, he was with that firm, gaining a good knowledge
• of the drug business, and then went back to Litch-
field to hold the chief clerkship in the postoffice
there. In 1868 Mr. Williams came to Waterbury
, and entered the employ of the Apothecaries Hall
Co., where he was engaged until 1870. That year,
in comixniy with William C. Hillard, he engaged
in the drug business under the firm name of Hillard
& Williams. The new firm did a good business,
and in 1875 Mr. Williams bought out his partner,
' becoming sole proprietor of the establishment. For
some twelve years he continued in the business,
and in 1887 sold out his store, engaging in the
real-estate, loan and insurance business, which he
has followed to the present time. Mr. W'illiams is
a very extensive money loaner, and has probably
handled more money in this way than some of the
local banks, who are his customers. He made one
loan of $300,000, and another of $125,000. He is
jiresidcnt of the Tennessee River Navigation Co.,
doing business on the Tennessee river from Kings-
ton. Tenn.. to Decatur. Ala., about four hundre
miles, with head(|uarters at Chattanooga.
In 1873 Mr. Williams married Ella S. Rice,
daughter of A. I-". Rice, whose sketch appears else-
where. Three children were born to this union :
Helen T., Samuel P., Jr., and Dorothy E. Mr.
Williams is a Republican, and has been elected treas-
urer of the town. In local politics he has taken an
active part, and for many years has been a member
of the town committee, serving as its chairman for
aliout eight years. For nearly thirty-five years he
has attended the services of St. John's Church, and
has filled the position of vestryman in that body.
Mr. Williams has always identified himself with
all kinds of open-air athletics, and with W'illiam H.
Merriman has held the State championship in lawn
I tennis. Socially he belongs to the Waterbury Club.
EDWl.V HAMI'.S( )X WIRTEMP.l'RG, a pro-
gressive and enterprising business man of Ansonia,
was born Aug. 29, 1857, in Bridgeport, Conn., son
72
of ^â– 'alton W^irtcmhurg, and grandson of Bartholo-
mew Wirtemburg. 1 le is of German and English
extraction, and has held an honorable place for many
years. In the early history of Soutli Germany that
country was ruled by a number of large land own-
ers, who often took their names from their prop-
erty or from some achievement in their family his-
tory. The former was the case with the Wirtem-
burg family, wdio ruled over a large tract of moun-
tainous country Iwrdcring on the Black Forest. The
name was originally W'ritt-um-berg, meaning
"lord of mountain," wdiich afterward became a por-
tion of what is now South (jermany, the state of
Wurtend)crg.
I'.artholomew Wirtemburg was an officer in that
part of the German army that saw service under
Napoleon I'onapartc, and lie took part in the famous
Moscow campaign, serving fourteen years in the
army, and receiving a goUl medal for his service.
He was a prominent citizen of Augmesingen, Wur-
temberg, Germany. After retiring from the army
he held the position of burgomaster of the city of
Augmesingen until his death, the office passing-
down to the eldest male child, next in line, living-
in that country : it is held at the present time by a
cousin of our subject.
\'alton Wirtemburg, our subject's father, was
born in Augmesingen, Germany, Feb. 12, 1832, was
graduated from the theological seminary at Obern-
dorf, Germany, and came to America soon after-
ward, settling in New Milford, Conn. In 1861 he-
moved to Derby, Conn., where he had charge of the
furniture factory of Summers & Lewis. In 1865
he formed a partnership with O. B. Coles, of New
Milford, for the manufacture of furniture, irr
Piridgeport. Conn. In 1876 he moved back to Derby
and took a position with the Sterling Piano &
Organ Co., but finally located in Ansonia. In i8qg
he retired from active business. Mr. Wirtemburg
was the first senior w^arden elected in Emmanuel
P. K. Church, and has held that position continu-
ously ever since: he has been superintendent of the
Simda\ - school from its incorporation. He is a
member of Housatonic Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F.,
of Derby. He married Elizabeth Hampson Shaw,
who was bom in Ri))enden, near Halifax, York-
shire, England, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
Shaw, and granddaughter of Sir John Hampson,
of Hampson Court, Yorkshire. Her father was an
officer in the I'ritish dragoons, and fought under
the Duke of Wellington at the battle of W^aterloo.
He died at the age of eighty-nine years. Our sub-
ject's mother died in the year 1878. at the age of
fortv-five years. She was the mother of seven chil-
dren, of whom four are living: Edwin Hampson,
our subject : Emma E., wife of David S. Miles,
superintendent of the Seymour Mf,g. Co.; George
H.. foreman of the Mathews Mfg. Co.. of Seymour;
and Joseph B., chief engineer of the Sevmour
Mfg. Co.
Our subject's early years were spent in Bridge-
M38
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
port. Conn., where he received a public-scliool ed-
ucation. In 1874 he moved to Derby to take a po-
sition with tlie SterUng Piano & Orcjan Co., and on
leaving^ there, five years later, lie spent five years
cnga.afcd in the manufacture of cigars at Southing-
ton, Coini. In 1888 he located at Columbus, Ohio,
whence he removed to Ansonia. In 18(^4 he went
to California, where he took charge of the Eagle
Milling & Gold Mining Co., located at Placerville,
Kldorado county, as manager and part owner. Re-
turning later to Ansonia, he started the grocery
business, which was very successful. In the early
part of 1901 he retired from the grocery business
in Ansonia, and has since divided his time between
his property in iVnsonia and at Cedar r>each, Mil-
ford, Conn. He is also interested in a large prop-
erty in Virginia.
On Jan. 10, 1877, Mr. Wirtemburg married
Miss Susan Jackson, a daughter of John and Eliza-
beth Jackson, and they had one daughter, Jessie
Xonna Wirtemburg. who was married, April 20,
1897, to Jerome D. Perkins. She was a member of
the local musical circle, and organist of the Em-
manuel Church for several years ; she died Xov. 24,
1900.
Politically our subject is a Republican. He
also takes active interest in church work, having
been clerk of Emmanuel Church parish since it was
incorporated, and took charge of the musical part
of the service for a number of years. Fraternally
he is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O.
F., of Plantsville, in which he has held various of-
fices. He is one of the oldest living members of the
Hotchkiss Hose Company, of Derby, and a charter
member of the Southington Hook & Ladder Co.,
Ko. I.
SA.ML'EL X. OVIATT, a leading merchant of
Milford, was born in that town Sept. 17, 1840, son
of Samuel and Abigail (Ford) Oviatt.
The Oviatt family is probably of Welsh origin,
and our subject traces nis descent from Thomas
Oviatt, one of the first settlers in Milford. Samuel
< )viatt (i), his great-great-grandfather, and Sam-
uel Oviatt (2), his great-grandfather, were both
born in Milford. Abel Oviatt, our subject's grand-
father, was also a native of Milford, and for many
years followed the sea. While on his trips he made
a ])ractice of purchasing molasses for his sons to
sell in Milford. and it may be said that their grocery
business was established there in that way in 1820.
He died in 1850, aged eighty-one years. He and
his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Mal-
lory, became the parents of two children : Samuel,
our subject's father; and Curtis, who was in part-
nership in the grocery business with his brother for
a short time, and also in a tannery and lumber yard,
and on selling his interest to his brother engaged
in teaching school.
Saniuei Oviatt, our subject's father, was born
ami rc.-irr-d in Milford, and died there Sept. 4,
1876. He was an independent in politics and a
Congregationalist in religion. He continued the
' grocery business until 1850. when he retired to his
fanii to spend his declining years. He married
.Abigail Ford, of Milford, whose mother, F.unice
( Treat) Ford, was a granddaughter of Gov. Treat.
Mrs. Oviatt died leaving a family of three children :
Juliette, wife of Charles Tuttle, a shoemaker and
tailor in Milford; Mary, wife of Lewis B. Malett,
' a butcher of Stratford; and Samuel N., our subject.
The father iserved for some time in the local gren-
adiers.
During boyhood Samuel N. Oviatt attended the
schools of Milford, and later ^^'illiston Seminary,
where he was graduated in 1867. He then entered
Yale College, but sickness compelled him to give
up his course, although he afterward tutored for a
time and studied theology in L^nion Theological
Seminary, New York. While there he sang in one
of the churches, and was in W. H. Dana's orchestra,
playing the 'cello. In 1872 he engaged in his
present business, as a dealer in dry goods and gro-
ceries, feed, hardware and similar commodities, in
which he has been very successful, his store on
West Main street being well patronized.
On July 16, 1873, Mr. Oviatt married Miss
Mary Furman, of \Iilford, a daughter of Ilcnry
Furman, of western New York. Two children 1,
have blessed this union : Lorenzo Pratt and Aljbie,
both at home. Lorenzo is now (1902) in his sec-
ond year as a student in the music department of
Yale, and is musical director for the Y. M. C. A.
of his county. His instrument is the organ. Mr.
Oviatt, like others of his family, is independent in
politics. He is connected with various organiza-
tions, including liie National Provident Union and
the Masonic fraternity, in which latter he was made'
master in 1866. As a member of the First Congre-'
gational Church he has been active in religion-
work, serving as superintendent of the Sunday-
school, and as deacon.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSTON, a leading agri-
culturist and highly esteemed citizen of Watcrlnirv
New Haven county, residing on the Bradlcyvilli
road, was born in Newark, N. J., Nov. 15. 1857
and is of Scotch-Irish descent.
Archibald Johnston, his father, was born ir
County Fermanagh, Ireland, and came to Americr
when a young man. He first located in Newark
N. J., where for some years he served as forcmai
for his father-in-law, William Beard, a contractoi
and dealer in coal, and later had charge of his busi
ness in Brooklyn, making his home there. Theri
he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza .\ni
Beard, a native of Brooklyn, and to them were bori
three children : Mary and Edith, who died young
and William IT., our subject. The parents both dic(
in Brooklyn, the father in 1884, the mother in 1862
and their remains were interred in Greenwood ccni
etery. They were members of the Episcopal Cluircl
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1 1 39
and were held in hig;h regard by all who knew them.
In his political views the father was a Democrat,
for his second wife he married Delia Norton, who
died in Brooklyn in 1886, and was also buried in
Greenwood cemetery. By that union there was one
son, Charles TYancis, who is a resident of Water-
bury, Connecticut.
William H. Johnston attended the public schools
of Brooklyn, and also a polytechnic school, from
which he was graduated. He began his business life
in the office of J. P. and G. C. Robinson, of New
York, with whom he remained seven years, and in
1878 came to Waterburv, New Haven Co., Conn.,
and purchased the Wheaton farm of 108 acres, on
the Bradleyville road, upon which he has made
many useful and valuable improvements that add
greatly to its attractive appearance. As an agricult-
urist he has met with success, becoming quite well-
to-do.
On Aug. 3, 1881, in Waterbury, Mr. Johnston
married Aliss Fanny Tracy, a native of Morris,
Conn., and a sister of George Tracy, a contractor
of Waterbury, in whose sketch will be found a
history of her family. Mrs. Johnston received a
good high-school education, and for seventeen years