self and wife were members of the M. E. Church.
James A. Knox attended the public schools of
Boston until he was fourteen years old, and at the
age of nineteen began to learn the trade of paper
box making in his native city, and followed the
same there until 1887. In July of the same year he
came to Waterbur\-. where he has ever since engaged
with the Waterbury Mfg. Co., and at present has
charge of the paper box and printing department.
In April, 1872, Mr. Kno.x was united in mar-
riage with Theresa G. Morey, who was born in
Boston, Mass. Five children have been bom of
this union: Joseph A., Clara I., William M.,
Charles H. and Mary T. Mr. Knox is prominent
as a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient
Order United Workmen, and the L^ited Order of
American Mechanics. He has filled all the chairs
in these orders, and at the present time is pre-
siding president of the past masters' organization,
A. O. U. W., of the State of Connecticut. In poli-
tics he is a Republican, and in 1893-94 was coun-
cilman from the Second ward of Waterbury, and
is now a member of the board of public safety, and
was recently elected a member of the bureau of
assessments.
4
FRANK M. BROWN, formerly an enter-
prising and successful young business man of Alil-
ford, was born Nov. 30, 1863, at Ridgefield, Fair-
field Co., Conn., a son of Silas and Jennie (Mead)
Brown.
Silas Brown, who followed shoemaking in
Ridgefield throughout his active years, was a na-
tive of Putnam county, N. Y., while his wife was
born in Ridgefield. This worthy couple had seven
children, viz. : Julia, James, Ella, Josephine, Edith,
Frank M. (our subject) and Winfield (deceased).
As a boy Frank M. Brown attended school in
Ridgefield, and in 1880, when seventeen years old,
he went to Milford to find employment in a shoe,
factory. After working for several years with
more or less irregularity, he determined to engage
in an independent business and in 1894 he opened
up a line of sporting goods, cigars and bicycles.
The central telephone ofiice, which was located in
his store, was also under his direction. Mr. Brown
is now located in Bridgeport. On Sept. 13, 1883,
he married Miss Lillian Porter, daughter of George
H. Porter, a well-known resident of Milford, and
they have one child, Miriam, now (1901) aged nine
years. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were popular S(x:ially,
and the latter is a member of the Alethodist Episco-
pal Church. Mr. Brown belongs to the I. O. O. F.
and the A. O. U. W., and during his residence there
was an active worker in the Milford Fire r>epart-
nient. In politics he afliliates with the Democratic
party, and at one time he served as constable.
JOHN J. SULLIVAN, one of the progressive
and successful business men of New Haven, occu-
pying the important position of foreman of the
plating department of the New Haven Clock Co.,
engaging also as proprietor of an undertaking es-
tablishment, at 342 Grand avenue, is a native of
New Haven, born in that city Dec. 17, 1864, and
is of Irish ancestry. His father, Willianii Sullivan,
was well known in New Haven, where he located
in 1840, but the paternal grandfather, who lived
and farmed and died in Ireland, never came ta
I490
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
America. William Sullivan, who was born in
County Cork, Ireland, and who engaged in the shoe
Jnisiness during his years of activity, married
iiridget Calahan, also of County Cork, Ireland, who
survives him, his death having occurred in 1891.
Five children were born of this marriage : Owen,
who died at the age of twelve; Margaret, who died
at the age of four ; Mary, who niarrieti James How-
ard, of New Haven, the latter now deceased ;
Thomas, who is a successful contractor in this city ;
and John J.
John J. Sullivan spent his boyhood days in New
Haven, and received his education in the public
schools, graduating from the high school in 1881.
About this time he went to work for the New Ha-
ven Clock Co., and has since been one of their
valued employes, occupying the responsible posi-
tion of foreman in the plating department. Although
deeply interested in his work, and qualified there-
for by years of practical experience, he is also en-
gaged in other business enterprises, one of which
is the undertaking business on Grand avenue.
July 12, 1893, Mr. Sullivan married Nellie Hart,
of New Haven, daughter of James Hart, who came
â– to America from County Sligo, Ireland. Two chil-
William and Mary. Mr. Sullivan has been a life-
long Democrat, and for many years has taken an
active interest in political undertakings. He was
aiiade one of the fire commissioners July i, 1899.
Socially he belongs to the Knights of St. Patrick
and the Henry Grattan Club, and he is one of the
leading members of St. Francis Parish Catholic
Church. As a citizen, Mr. Sullivan stands high in
this city and is a worthy representative of the pro-
gressive and influential business men of New
Haven.
JOHN BRENNAN COAKLEY, time-keeper
at the liranford Lock Works, and express order
clerk in the shipping department of the factory,
was born in Durham, Conn., Juije 12, 1855, and is
a son of Daniel F. and Catherine (Brennan) Coak-
Jcy, natives respectively of County Cork and County
Koicommon, Ireland.
Daniel F. Coakley was by occupation a shoe-
jiiaker, and upon coming to this country in 1851
located in Branford, and worked at his trade for
about a year and a half. He then lived in Water-
burj for about the same length of time, going then
to Durham, and returning to Branford in 1878.
Here he spent his last days, dying Nov. 23, 1883,
at the age of fifty-five years. Five children were
born to Daniel and Catherine Coakley, of whom all
but of.e grew to maturity : John B. ; Ellen F., who
became the wife of John Steigmuller ; Daniel ; and
Peter.
After completing his education in Durham
Academy, at the age of nineteen years John Bren-
nan Coakley setled on a farm, and for five years
Branford and secured employment with the Bran-
ford Lock Works, and for a time was employed in
various capacities, securing his present position in
1882.
Oct. 14, 1885, Mr. Coakley was married to Cor-
nelia E. McKonnon, the adopted daughter of Jere-
miah Daly, of Branford, and a native of this city.
Of this union the following children have been
born : Daniel F. ; Anna, deceased ; and John B., Jr.
Mr. Coakley and his family are miembers of the
Catholic Church. He is connected with various
fraternal orders, being an active worker in the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Foresters of
America, the Knights of Columbus and the New
England Order of Protection. He is a Democrat
in iwlitics and is registrar of voters in Branford.
MICHAEL J. LANGFORD, one of the worthy
citizens that Ireland has furnished to the New
World, has for several years been actively identified
with the business interests of Naugatuck, New
Haven county, and has also taken quite a prominent
and influential part in her public affairs. He was
bom in County Kerry, Ireland, Ai)ril 3, i860, a
son of Michael and Bridget (Murphy) Langford,
natives of the same place, where they still continue
to make their home. To them were bom si.x chil-
dren, namely : John, a mechanic of Naugatuck,
Conn. ; Mary, wife of John Maley, of New Haven,
foreman of the Sargent & Co.'s w^orks, and also
a contractor; Michael J., our subject; Nora; Bar-
tliolonxew, who died in America at about the age
of twenty-two years ; and Patrick, who is engaged
in school teaching in Ireland, and with his wife
conducts the post office at Ballybunnion.
Reared in his native land, Michael J. Langford
acquired his literary education in the national
schools, and at the age of seventeen years began life
for himself by working as a fami hand for two
years. On June 6, 1880, he came to America, and
first located in Mt. Carmel, Conn., where he learned
the iron molder's trade, at which he worked for
alwut six years. At the end of that period he cm-
barked in the meat and grocery business at Union
City, Conn., with J. J. Linskey, under the firm name
of Linskey & Langford, and this connection lasted
about four years, when the partnership was dis-
solved, but Mr. Langford continued to engage in
the meat business at that place for about seven
years. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man,
who carries forward to successful completion what-
evfer he undertakes.
, Mr. Langford wedded Miss Mary Patterson, a
native of Cheshire, Conn., and a daughter of
Thon>as Patterson, who was of Irish extraction.
Mrs. Langford died in 1894. leaving five children :
Louis F., Agnes E., Alice M., Mary R. and Will-
iam L. Fraternally Mr. Langford is a member of
the Foresters of America and the Ancient Order of
liniled Workmen, and religiously is a member of
St. Francis Catholic Church. His political support
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1491
is given the men and measures of the Democratic
party, and he takes quite an active and prominent
part in public affairs. He was a member of the
first board of burgesses after Naugatuck became a
borough, and filled that office for one year, after
which he was a member of the board of charities
for a short time. lie was next appointed superin-
tendent of the poor, and has most efficiently served
in that position for four years.
WILLIAM O'NEIL, senior member of the
piogressive firm of O'Ncil & Warner, carriage
builders, horse shoers and blacksmiths, at Water-
bury, is a native of Scotland, and was born in
Brechin, Forfarshire, Jan. 28, 1852.
His father, William 0"Neil, claims the same
nativity, and is a son of Bernard O'Neil, who was
bom in County Antrim,, Ireland, w-hence he mi-
grated to Scotland, and there married Elizabeth
Mill. A quarryman by occupation, the grandfather
was killed in the performance of his at all times
dangerous calling. William O'Neil is a paper
maker by trade, and has passed all his life in Scot-
land, his home still being in Brechin. He married
Elizabeth Webster — now deceased, — also born in
Brechin, a daughter of David Webster, a linen
manufacturer. Four children were born of this
union : David W., a member of the firm of Brad-
ley, Currier & Co., stair builders, inside wood work-
ers, etc., New York ; James W., superintendent for
James McCauley, of Boston ; Mary, wife of George
H. Priest, of New Haven, Conn.; and William.
The mother of this interesting family is deceased.
The youth of William O'Neil was passed in the
historic town of Brechin, where he was educated in
the public schools and served an apprenticeship of
five years to a carriage blacksmith, in 1871 he came
to the United States, working for a year each in Bos-
ton, Mass., Amesbury, Mass., and in New Hamp-
shire, eventually locating in New Haven, where he
was employed at his trade until his removal to
Waterbury in 1882. Here he formed a partnership
with John R. Martin, under the firm name of Mar-
tin & O'Neil, carriage makers and blacksmiths, but
at the end of si.x and one-half years sold out to his
partner, and for the following six years had charge
of the blacksmithing department in C. F. Goodwin
& Son's carriage factory. March i, 1895, Mr.
O'Neil formed a partnership with William P.
Thoms, in the same line of business, under the firm
name of Thoms & O'Neil, and in course of time as-
sociated with them William A. Warner, the name
then being changed to Thoms. O'Neil & Warner.
On account of the death of Mr. Thoms at the end of
the same year the present firm name of O'Neil &
Warner was assumed. The manufacturing facilities
of the concern comprise two distinct plants, the car-
riage factory being a three-story brick building,
opposite which is the two-story forge. Both dc-
liartments are equipped with all requisite tools and
appliances, no machinery being used, and all the
products are the result of skilled hand labor. Mr.
O'Neil is as practical a carriage maker as Mr. War-
ner is horseshoer.
July 3, 1875, Mr. O'Neil married Emily E.
Stone, born in Boston, Mass., a daughter of Elmer
Stone, a native of England. Five children have
been born of this union: James E., Webster, Will-
iam H., Elizabeth and David. James E. is married
and is associated with his father in business. The
family are members of the First Baptist Church in
Waterbury, in which Mr. O'Neil is a deacon. In
national and State politics Mr. O'Neil is a Republi-
can, but in local matters he is independent. Soci-
ally he is a member of the F. & A. IM., New Haven
Lodge. Mr. O'Neil is devoted to the general wel-
fare of the community, and may be counted on to
further any reasonable effort at improvement. In
his special department of activity he has few
superiors, a tribute equally applicable to his partner
ill business.
WILLIAM MARTIN CASEY, a prominent
citizen of the town of Wallingford, was born in
Washington, D. C, Nov. 12, 1861.
William P. Casey, his father, was born in the old
and historic County Tipperary, Ireland, but was
reared in London. He served in the English navy
during the Crimean war, and joined the Confederate
army at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion.
For a time he was with Mosby's Guerrillas, and
later with Johnston's Raiders. While with Mosby
he was captured and confined in the military prison
on Morris Island. At the first battle of Bull Run he
was badly wounded, but recovered, and served
through the most critical years of the Confederacy.
Coming north to Meriden, Conn., in 1868, he later
removed to Wallingford, where he was connected
for many years with the H. L. Judd Co. While
going to his work on the morning of July 19, 1894,
he was killed by a train on the N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R., when he was aged sixty-five years. Mary
Carroll, his wife, was born in England, and is now
living in Meriden. To them were born : William
Martin; Nora, who married John Bradley, of
Waterbury ; Mary, who married Patrick Towney,
of Waterbury ; and two that died in infancy.
William M. Casey came when eight years of
age with his parents to Meriden, where his educa-
tion wasi completed in the public schools. At the
age of sixteen years he took the burden of his own
support on his shoulders, and entered the employ
of the Brecken ridge Co., and was also employed by
Rogers Brothers and the Meriden Bronze Co. In
(October, 1886. he came to Wallingford to work as
a polisher with II. L. Judd & Co., and in February
of the following year was promoted to the foreman-
ship of the polishing and buffing department, with
fhirty men under his instruction and management,
and this position he is still holding. Mr. Casey is
a self-made man in every resjject. Against great
difficulties he has made his way to a good position.
1492
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and he holds the confidence of his associates to a
marked degree.
Mr. Casey belongs to the Silver Oty Council,
A. O. U. W., Court Robert Wallace, Foresters of
America, and has been assistant fire chief of Wallace
Hose Co. No. 2, for three years. For a number of
years previous to his appointment he had been a
member of the Company. Mr. Casey is a member
of the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, of
Wallingford, and is president of the Y. M. T. A.
& B. Society. Much interested in out-of-door recre-
ations, he is a great devotee of base-ball, and at one
time was the very successful pitcher of the Walling-
ford Club. He is. a social young man of many
friends, and is a dancer of more than local reputa-
tion. A talented performer on the snare drum, he
lias given instruction in its playing both in Walling-
ford and in Meriden for the last fifteen years or
more. For the last three years Mr. Casey has been
on the Democratic town committee, and is a hard
worker for his party.
On June 2, 1886, Mr. Casey was married to
Margaret Doonan, and they have three children :
Mae, born Feb. 22, 1888; Edward, born July 19,
1890; and Frank W., born May 30, 1893. Mr. and
Mrs. Casey occupy a very pretty home on North
Main street.
JOH\ M. P.LAKE, proprietor of Blake's
Fourth Ward Cafe, in Branford, was born in War-
rington, England, March 6, 1854, son of William
and Mary (Kation) Blake, both natives of County
Galway, Ireland.
John Blake, the paternal grandfather, was the
son of a steel plate shearer, and spent the most of
his life in England, dying in Warrington in 1870.
He was the father of eleven children, five of whom
grew to maturity: John M.; Margaret, who after-
ward became Mrs. James Burns ; William ; Thomas ;
and George.
John M. Blake was reared in Oldham, England,
and there he had his education in the public schools.
When he had become old enough to assume the bur-
den of his own supf>ort he served six years and
seven months as an apprentice at the machinist
business in Oldham, gaining a thorough knowledge
of every branch of the trade. Mr. Blake followed
this work for sixteen years in England, working as
a journeyman machinist. In the montli of March,
1886, determined to find a more favoring field for
his industry, he came to the United States, locating
in Branfor
Works. Here he was employed for about four
years, and he then took a position as a clerk in the
Totoket House, where he remained .several years.
In 1898 he embarked in business for himself, and
has been highly successful.
Mr. Blake was married June 12, 1899, to Mar-
garet A., a daughter of Timothy and Margaret
(O'Brien) Fitzgerald, df Branford, formerly of
Ireland. To this union has come one son, William.
Mr. Blake and wife are members of the Catholic
Church, where they are known as loyal and earnest
workers and zealous for any onward movement in
the church and parish. In politics Mr. Blake is a
Democrat.
JOHN L. SAXE, a well-known business man
of \\'atcrbury, and one of the most prominent and
influential German-American citizens of the Nauga-
tuck Valley, was born in Eflford, Kingdom of Prus-
sia, Germany, May 4, 1845, ^nd is a son of Andrew
and Amelia Saxe, also natives of Prussia, and born
respectively Jan. 6, 1796, and Jan. 22, 1806. In
1852 the family came to America and took up their
residence in Watcrbury, Conn., where the father
died Jan. 6, 1877, and the mother Aug. 11, 1886,
and they were interred in Riverside cemetery. They
were members of the Lutheran Church, and in poli-
tics the father was a Democrat. In his native land
he served as government inspector of cloth, or com-
missary inspector, and durmg his residence in this
country followed the occupation of a tailor. In his
family were four children : William, who died in
St. Paul, Minn. ; Julius, who went west and died ;
John L. ; and Charles F., a resident of Waterbur>\
John L. Saxe accompanied his parents on their
emigration to America, the ocean voyage lasting
seven weeks and a half. They first located in Bir-
mingham, Conn., and later in Ansonia, where he
attended the public schools, and from where he
came to Waterbury. He spent a short time in Bris-
tol, and also worked in a factory at Terryville^
Litchfield county, and at the age of fifteen visited
St. Paul and St. Cloud, Minn., where he spent eight
months with his brother in subduing the Indians.
Returning east at the opening of the Civil war, he
enlisted in New York City, Aug. 16, 1861, in the
4th New York Cavalry, under Col. Dickel, and spent
three years in the service, being discharged at
Washington, D. C. When peace was restored he
returned to Watcrbury, Conn., and for a short time
worked as a brass finisher for the Waterbury Brass
Co., and he next found employment with Holmes,
Booth & Haydcns, and as foreman of their silver
plating department for twenty-one years traveled-
cxtensively through the New England and West-
ern States. Subsequently he was. connected with
Plume & Atwood for six years, and while with this
firm invented a riveting machine, known as the
J. L. Saxe riveting machine, which bears the dis-
tinction of being the only one of its kind in the
world. This has proved a very useful and valuable
invention, and it is now utihzed in some of the
largest belt and other factories in the country. Un-
like the average human, the machine is capable of
doing many things at the same time, and not only
holds the work on the table but makes a hole
through it, puts a rivet in the hole, a burr over the
rivet, and rivets the same, all in one revolution of
the machine. Mr. Saxe started the Belting Supply
Co., and continued in that line until meeting with>
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1493
reverses in business, when he turned his attention
to his present bric-a-brac, antique and second-hand
furniture business, in wliicii lie is meeting- witli
gratifying success.
On Sept. 22, 186S, Mr. Sa.xe was united in mar-
riage with Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Gephardt,
who died at Waterbury, Conn., Jan. 6, 1870, leav-
ing one child, Amelia Josephine, who was born Dec.
27, 1869, and is now the wife of A. A. Ilartman.
Mr. Saxe was again married, Jan. i, 1875, his sec-
ond union being with Miss Annie Maria O'Connor,
daughter of Slej)hen O'Connor. They have five
children: Laura Mlizabeth (wife of Henry Kiser),
born Aug. 29, 1876; Leonard John, born April 15,
1878; Andrew C, born Dec. ly, 1881 ; Annie Belle,
bom July 19, 1883; and John Leonard, Jr., born
Sept. 22, 1887.
Mr. Saxe has taken an active jjart in public af-
fairs, and is a recognized leader of the Democratic
party in his community, and one of its stanch sup-
porters. He served as constable of the town of
Waterbury six years ; selectman one term ; assessor
one term; grand juror many years; and was a
member of the State Legislature during the ses-
sions of 1891 and 1893, serving on several im-
portant committees, lie represented the Third
ward in the city council of Waterbury for three
terms, and was chainnan of the committee on pub-
lic lands and buildings. He has also served as alder-
man two terms ; as a member of the school board of
Waterbury and chairman two years, and during
that service rendered valuable aid to the cause
of education. He is a prominent member of Com-
stock Lodge, N. 13, K. P.; the Uniformed Rank of
the same order; Uhland Lodge (a Gemian branch),
L O. R. M.; and the Grand Army Post of Water-
bury, of which he was one of the organizers. He is
now colonel and aide of military instruction in the
public schools, a department of the Connecticut
Grand Army of the Republic. He is broad-minded
and liberal in his views, a good debater and a very
intelligent and progressive man.
J. S. MOORE. The name of J. S. Moore is
associated with more than thirty years of substan-
tial business activity in Branford, during which
time he has established a reputation for skill, enter-
prise and honest dealing.
A native of Southoldtown. Long Lsland, N. Y.,
Mr. Moore was born Sept. 21, 1839, and is a son
of Silas and Mehitable (Terry) Moore. The pa-
ternal grandfather, Silas Moore, was of Scotch de-
scent, and was among the very early settlers and
farmers of Long Island. He einlx)died the sterling
and worth while characteristics of his race, traits
transmitted in a marked degree to his son and
grandson.
J. S. Moore was reared in his native commun-
ity, and his early training was not unlike that of
other farmer boys of his time. When old enough
to shift for himself he left the common schools and
served a three years' apprenticeship at the carpen-
ter's and joiner's trade, having completed which he
worked at his trade for two years. In 1862 Mr.
Moore set up in business for himself as a wagon
maker at Southoldtown, L. L, and at the end of
seven years, in 1869, removed to Branford. and has
since been successfully engaged in the same line of
business.
In November, 1857, Mr. Moore married Matilda
P., daughter of John P. Griffin, a resident and
prominent citizen of Mason, Mich. Mr. and Mrs.
Moore have one son, W'ilford Lee, who was mar-
ried to Luella Hubbard, daughter of Henry W. and
Emma (Linsley) Hubbard, of Branford. To Mr.
and Mrs. Moore has been bom one daughter, Ethel,
the only grandchild of the family. Mr. Moore and
his wife are members of the First Baptist Church
of Branford. In politics he is a Democrat.
JOHN H. FRLTN, a retired merchant at
Waterbury, Conn., is a native of that town, born
Feb. 22, 1859.
William Fruin, father of John H., was bom in
County Tipperary, Ireland, and married Johanna
Magner, a native of the same county. Of this union
there were born eight children in Ireland, Jolm H.
being the only child owning American nativity. In
order of birth these children were named as fol-