Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-04

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WILLIAMS
 in Wales. In 1862 he emigrated to
 America and settled in Ledyard. in
 1863. He was one of the Soldiers of
 King Philips war. By his wife. Ara
 bella Thompson, he had five children, Richard, William (who married Mar
 garet Cooke), Henry Stephen and
 Mary
 Benjamin Franklin Williams was
 born in Ledyard. Sept. ', 1841, and un-
 til he was fifteen years of age he at
 tended the district schools. He was
 then sent to a boarding school in East
 Greenwich, R. l., where he studied for
 three years when he entered Phillips
 Academy, at Andover, Mass, there
 completing the usual course of study.
 Returning to 1edyard at the begin
 ming of the Civil war, he was one of
 the first volunteers. but on account of
 physical disability he was rejected. He
 then turned his attention to farming
 which for years was his chief occupa-
 tion. Later he turned his attention
 to the administering of estates. and to
 the guardianship of the unfortunate
 and of minors. his hign reputation for integrity making him a favorite for such work, while his natural business
 ability insured the careful manage ment of the property left in his charge.
 He took great interest in the public
 affairs of both town and county. T O1 Illtl0 yedIS Il0 served as SCHOOL visitor in Stonington, during which time he was clerk of the school board,
 and for sixteen years he was district con2Titteeman.' Although he was a stauneh republican and the town of Stonington, by a large majority is terms as selecfman (1890- fS99), five of which he was first selectman.
 MT. Williams took an active part in 1 securing for Mystic the location Of the | velvet plant of the Rossi Brothers ot Germany. When the Mystic Industrial company was formed in the winter of 1897 he was chosen as one fthe di- rectors and was elected as its first | president
 In November, 1900. he was appointed | by Governor Lounsbury, county com ] missioner for New London county te l fill the vacancy caused by the death l of John T. Batty. This appointment l was not unexpected as it had been understood that MT. Williams had the endorsement of the strongest men ir | the ninth senatorial district, as we'll as | in the county
 i Mir Williams was one of the iucor- | porators of the Stonington and Grotor Street Railway company, charter foi l which was granted by the legislature | of 1908. and throIsh his efforts a large l part of the capital stock was subscrib- l ed, and he obtained the right of way F | on the organization of the company he
 was elected vice president and a di- rector
 MT. Williams had been no less &C., | tive in church affairs, uniting with | the First CongregationaI church in l Stonfngton in 1866. and he had almost l ever since been a member of the So- | citeyt's committee. For 8 number of years he was treasurer of the society
 and also of the church fund. Since 1 October 4. 1889. he had been a deacon | of the church and for nearly 50 years had been superintendent of the Sum- l day school.
 On February 4th. 1864. MT. Williams was united in marriage. with Anna Lollisa, daughter of Nathan Stanton and Nancy Denison Moves, of Ston- 1 ington Eight children were born to
 this union-Nathan, who died in 1ss2; | Everett and Joseph, who both died in | infancy; George; who died in 1878. al 1 the age of seven years; Eliza Denison l wilo died in 1880. aged five years: | Frank Lincoln Williams of New York r Annie Louise. who married Moves Pal
 mer of Stonington. and Clarence l Henry Williams of Mystic. There are l four brothers and sisters, Gurdon ] Williams of Redlands. cal. Mrs. liar riet Grant of New York, Joseph Will | jams of Chicago and Miss Abbie E. Williama of Mystic.
 Patrick J. 1aIt. 1 Patrick J. Tait, of Bridgeport. died ] Sunday in Preston at the age of 4G 1 years. The body was taken in charge | by Undertakers Shea and Burke and I will be sent to Bridgeport today. The man has relatives in Bridgeport and | burial will take place in that city. | Thomas J. Healey, Sr. Thomas J. Healey, Sr. of Spring 1 field, Mass. formerly of this city. 5s
 years of age. died in the Mercy hos-
 pital Thursday evening MT. Healey
 was born in this city and went to i Springfield 35 years ago from Chico ! pee. Since 1911 he has been janitor
 of the Summer avenue school and
 was secretary of the schoolhouse cus-
 todians' union. MT. Healey was a i member of the City Home lodge o1 l Moose, the Ousamequin tribe of Red | Men and the Holy Name church.
 He is survived by his wife, two
 sons, Thomas J., and Charles F.. o1 1 Springfield. and his stEpmother. Mrs
 Mary Healey of Waterbury, Conn.