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Windham County Connecticut
CTGenweb Project
WINDHAM COUNTY RECORDS |
F. J. COOLEY BIOGRAPHY AS RECORDED IN: COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 1255 F. J. COOLEY is a successful merchant
at Rockville, Tolland county, and as a young man he was called upon
to fill such positions of trust and honor in his native town as usually
fall to the more aged and experienced. He is still a young man, but
has risen from the bottom and fought his way to the top, and is regarded
as one of the sound and substantial business men of F.J. Cooley was born July 16,
1866, in Somers, Conn., and is the son of Levi and Mary (Batton)
Cooley. The earlier years of his life were spent in his native
town, where he had but little education, as his parents were poor,
and he had early to take up the work of life. His last two years
at school were spent in the home of his brother, George W., in
Somers, where he did chores for his board and attended the Battle
street school. From a boy of ten or eleven years of age, he was
put to hard work, as, though small of stature, he had great energy
and determination; the work he did was remarkable considering his
youth. When little more than entered upon his teens, responsibilities
fell upon him almost as upon a man with a family, and the boy exhibited
a spirit that proved him to be an exceptionally dutiful son. When
but thirteen years old he earned a mans pay, working for
William Burden, of Somers, a farmer, and a noted business man.
All his earnings went to the support of his mother and the home.
There he early secured a knowledge of tobacco culture, as he was
observing and manifested an adaptation one much older might not
have shown. After he reached fifteen years he was seldom out of
employment, and wherever he worked he made a reputation that would
always warrant his return. When about eighteen years old he went
to North Somers, Conn., where he worked for Fred Wood, who was
engaged in work on the town roads. In the fall of that year he
was offered Mr. Cooley left the store of Mr. Dart in 1886, and in September of that year went to Ellington to clerk for H.C.Aborn & Son, where he remained until August, 1889, when he became a member of the firm of M.H. Aborn & Co. Their place was on West street, Rockville, the establishment now under the management of Mr. Cooley. After two years the business was moved for a few months, and then taken back to the present stand. In 1892 Mr. Cooley became the
sole proprietor of the business, purchasing the interest of Mr.
Aborn, and conducted it alone until 1894, when the firm became
Cooley & Thompson,
A.M.Thompson becoming the junior partner; they remained in partnership
till January, 1901, when Mr. Cooley succeeded the firm, the business
being now conducted under the name of F.J.Cooley. Mr. Cooley had
been the active manager of the business and his close attention and
his characteristic energy were invaluable to its progress. During
his Mr. Cooley was married Dec. 16, 1885, in Somers, Conn., to Miss Nellie Cady, a native of that place, born Feb. 18, 1864. She is the daughter of William H. and Emma Jane (Hulburt) Cady. Her father is the chief of police of Rockville, and his sketch may be found elsewhere. Mrs. Cooleys girlhood days were spent in Lakewood, N.J., the home of her parents for a time, but when she was twenty, they came back to Somers. To this union were born: Pauline May, born Feb. 1, 1887, now in the class of 1904, of the Rockville high school; Leslie F., born April 14, 1888; Percy Leroy, born Nov. 28, 1892; Sterling, born April 20, 1894; Winifred, born Oct. 18, 1895. In his political connection Mr.
Cooleys
sympathy is with the Democratic party. In 1897 he served on the board
of relief, and was justice of the peace in 1895 and 1896. His term
as selectman expired in October, 1900. For the strongly Republican
Second ward he was elected alderman by a large majority, and while
a member of the council he never missed a single meeting. For a number
of terms he was town auditor, and in social affairs is a member of
the I.O.O.F., in which he has held prominent office. Mr. Cooley belongs
to Alden Skinner Camp No. 45, Sons of Veterans. His position as a
citizen and a business man is a prominent one, and he has gained
it by his own efforts. He bought his excellent home on West street
in Rockville, Reproduced by: Linda D. Pingel great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct. |
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