Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-12

HORACE A. BRIGGS
 young he le armed the trade. of a black smith, whic h he followed for a mum Der of yeal:s in Windhan and Mid dlesex coun t1es and in Massachusetts In 1S49. after workiIg jp Edwin Wesson's gh nshop in Hartford for about two v ears, he came to Norwich and was eu Iployed in Horace Smiths gunshop, after which he went to Wor- cester for two years in similar bus mess. He returned here in. 1853 and made Wh5 le guns for Tracy tSz Brand and later worked for Smith &, Wes- son, who were succeeded by the Win chester Repeating Arms' Go. He next had charge of the Manh attan company, until he went in business for himself in 1859. when he became interested in the Bacon Manufacturing companz at the Falls, wHe1,e he remained untt7 1868, when he sold out. That company was succeeded Joy the Hopkins & Allen Ma9u5stcTur1ngf o1'al9o5 G{1 B company. which in c. H. Allen, C. W. Hopkins. Samuel s. Hopkins and later H. H. Hopkins. Mr. Briggs was elected president of the new comp4 ny and for over thirty years continued in that position. It started with ca| pital of s5,O00 and in the first SIX years, alone paid dividends of over $I6, ,6O0 In 1897 the company was re- organz ed as the Hopkins & Allen Arms company, when MT. Briggs with oECW. 1IOIu dCC1V6 COnIrOI or the con- cern, although he remained on the board of directors until there was change in control of the concern a few years ago. He. however, remained as a stocEholder up to the time of his death.
 ! MT. Briggs was a public spirited cit l Izen' slnd took a deep interest in local polite He was a staunch Jeffersonian denRocrat. Keenly alive to his duties an9- responsibilities as a citizen he1 nas taken an active part in local af- fSnrs, having served as a member of The city council as alderman in 1885, 5 S4, as president of the board of water | commissioners and as a member of the | board of selectmen- He was also 8 | candidate for the legislature, but fail | ed of election. Whatever the respon-
 sibility imposed upon him he was al- ways found true to the trust.
 He has always believed in early l to bed and early to rise as the best | prescription for health and up to the 1 time of his sickness carried out the principles so long ago established of l doing plenty of hard work. Even while i president of the large firearms com pany he always spent part of the day at the bench in the shop with the other
 workmen. This he continued until the factory burned in February, 1900. He had a thorough knowledge of ] the firearms business, gained through | his long connection with that indus
 
 suited in the production of a number of new models of guns as well as other devices. He was a hard worker, who forged his way steadily by industry and perseverance and in all things was actuated and guided by the die tates of honesty and a mindfulness of the dues of others. He belonged to no organizations though back in the 4O'S he was a member of the Volun- teer fire department in Hartford. His q lam an nf "a school and one who has always been a resident of the West Side.
 He was a man of strong convictions, quiet disposition and genial person. ality, who made friends and held them. His exemplary life was based on soEnd principles.
 The deceased was twice married. His first wife Miss Susan NJ. Stanton of | Voluntown, died April g, 1869. Later he married Miss Esther Green of gether with six children, Alvin D. l Briggs of North Stonington, Miss Maria s. Briggs, Mrs. Charles R. Cross, 1 Mrs. Leonard P; Church, Edward Whiting of Merrows. There are eight grandchildren: Harvey M. Briggs, Miss l Lillian Cross, Kenneth Church, Justine | and Howard Briggs of this city, Hor- ace I Briggs of Providence, Robert E. 1 Cross of Hartford and Mason Whiting 1 of Merrows and one great-grand- | daughter, Miss Carolyn c. Briggs of Providence
 Charles Joseph Mckay. !
 As the result of an automobile ac- cident on the night of June 2, Charles l Joseph Mckay, a well known insurance | agent in this city, died at the Backus | hospital Friday morning at 6:30 | Vclock MT Mckay was struck and | knocked down by an automobile at | the Marguerite corner and suffered a | fracture of the skull, near the base. l He did not regain consciousness al- | though he seemed to be somewhat | improved on Tuesday of this week.
 MT. Mckay was the son of the late l Matthew and Mary Mckay and was | born in Meriden on June 12, 1856. On | Feb. 16, 1887, in St. Roses church, | Meriden, he was united in marriage | with Miss Annie E. Kelley.
 MT. Mckay was employed in the l railway mail service under the first | Cleveland administration. He located l in Norwich about 24 years ago and | for the past 23 years he was employ | ropolitan Life Insurance Company.
 MT. Mckay was a member of the | Holy Name Society of St. Patricks | church and was past grand knight of | Silver City Council, Knights of Col lumbus, Meriden. Mary F. and Julia A. Mckay; three | sons Charles J., Matthew F., and Ed l ward G., all of this city and also two | sister, Miss Mary E. of New Haven | and Miss Elizabeth Conroy of Meri- | den.
 Those who knew Charles Joseph | Mckay were saddened when he was | he will be among them no more In l