The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-02-11
DEATH OF JAMES w. ENSIGN.
The Well Known Leather Merchant DC
o,,rrnd Snddanlv Saturday.

The Well Known Leather Merchant DC
Cured Suddenly Saturday.
Thomas W. Ensign, we'll known
| leather merchant and dealer in hides
at 246 George street, died suddenly Sat
urday morning at his home, 456 George
street, aged eighty-three years. Mr..
Ensign was in his usual health FRIDAY
night. when he retired, but the next
morning he was found dead in bed by
members of his family. 1t was known
| to his family that he had heart trouble
and organic heart trouble is supposed TO
| have been the cause of his death.
| Mr. Ensign was a member OF one OF
the best known families of New Haven,
family which has for a long period OF
years been connected with the leather
business. a business which in Garner
years was one Of the prominent INDUS
tries of the city. His fathef' WhoFe
name was also Thomas w. Ensign, was
engaged in the same business, anu
fought in the war of 1872, being pen
sioner for that war. He died about 1871.
For nearly three generations Thomas
W.. who has Just died. and his prede-
cessors conducted leather business on
George street, which was at one tltne
center for the tanning business IN TINS
state. In those days, before the ad-
vent of the railroads, the Industry was
an important one here, ana FARMERS
brought in loads of hides from all adj
iacent regions of the state, even from
as far away as iLitchfield, driving TO
New Haven with their hides and re-
turning with supplies purchased from
the proceeds.
He was the oldest of five brothers,
only one of whom, Willard f. Ensign,
who resides on George street, IS now
alive. The other brothers were wooster
A.. Howard B. and Edward w. Woost-
ter A. and Howard B. were engaged IN
the hardware business in New Haven
for years. Howard B. was formerly in
business on Chapel street. He was a
man Of much enterprise and later re-
moved to Baltimore, where he estap-
lished line of steamers. He died sud-
denly in Philadelphia few years ago.
He was at one time chief engineer OF
the New Haven fire department, Woos-
ter A. remained in the hardware busl-
ness in New Haven up to the time OF
his death about two years ago, being
at first located on Chapel street and
later on Orange street, where his bust
ness was conducted at the time of his |
death. Edward N. died several years |
ago, Willard f. is prominent resident |
of New Haven, one Of the directors OF
the National Savings bank.
Although a man of advanced years
Mr.. Ensign retained his office on
George street. near the site of the old
tanneries, the operations of which were
facilitated by stream of water
which formerly flowed just below
street now is. Oak street, the next
street. was formerly called Morocco
street, receiving that name owing to
he tannery business there.
His wife, who died number of years
.go.i was Maria Hotchkiss, a sister Of
he late John B. Hotchkiss, who was
or many years connected with the
Journal and Courier. Mr.. Ensign had
me daughter, Jessie, his only child,
Who was Mrs. Edwin H. Barnum.
'he died about seven years ago. His
mother was formerly Miss Esther
Forbes. Mr.. Ensign was one of the old
ashioned type of gentlemen, of probity
nd uprightness He was genial and a
most interesting conversationalist. He
ad a fund Of "reminiscences of the older
Jew Haven and often related them to
Interested auditors
The funeral will be held at 2:30 to- |
borrow afternoon from the late resi- {
ence, 456 George street. The interment 9
I'LL be in the Ensign plot in Evergreen
G