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. Biographies of Tolland County |