New Britain herald., 1920-08-27
HEART ATTACK KILLS WILLIAM E. SESSIONS.
Famous Bristol Manufacturer Stricken Suddenly This Morning

WAS GREAT PHILANTHR0PIST Took Active Part in Charity and Was
 Devoted to Activities of Methodist
 Church-Founded Bristol Trust
 Company.
 William Edwin Sessions. pioneer manufacturer and one of the most popular business men in Bristol. died suddenly at his home on Bellevue ave. in this city shortly after o'clock this morning. pr. E. Parker Sanborn, who attended him, pronounced death as heart failure. MT. Sessions was in fine health yesterday and early this morning. After breakfast he felt rather lindisposed and it was but a short time later that he died.
 Mir. Sessions in 63rd year
 MT. Sessions was in his 63rd year, having been born in Bristol on Febru- ary IS, 1857, te second son of John Humphrey Sessions also of Bristol. The young man received his educa- tion in the common schools of the town and graduated from Hartford High school. After his school days, he spent a year or two in the office of J. H. Sessions & Son as book-keeper, and in 1879, being then but 22 years of age, he entered into the manage ment of the foundry which his father had just purchased, and has been in active charge ever since
 Married to Emily ID. Brown
 On une 12, 1878, he was married to Emily D. Brown of Ellington. Two children were born to the couple, Joseph Brown, born Nov. II, 1881, and William Kenneth, born February 21, 1886. His wife and sons survive him.
 Business Affiliations
 Mr. Sessions was president of the Sessions Foundry on Pennington av- enue, Bristol; president of the Ses- sions Clock Company in Forestville; founder and president of the Bristol Trust Company: chairman of the board of trustees of the Prospect Methodist Church on summer street; founder and supervisor of Mount Hope chapel located on Chippins Hill in Bristol; trustee of the Wesleyan college in Middletown, and served as a presidential elector from Connecti- cut fl the campaign of 1908. Although he was always interested in the Re- publican party and was loyal to it, he never would accept political honors or office. He did not care to be elector in the campaign of 1908 but was pur- suaded by his friends.
 \ Philanthropist
 The dead business man was a phil anthropist through and through. Money given by him in support of the poor will never be countab1e. He was always interested in the civic and so- cial life in Bristol. He could be seen about the city taking active part in what was going on. In business, he was known as shrewd but spnare deaI- CT. His employees were of the kind that would follow their master anywhere He died, knowing that he had never bod bit of trouble with any man he employed.
 His kindness toward the men work ing for him is best seen in his &C., ton every Thanksgiving when he or dered turkeys for all his old em- ployes and had them delivered to their homes by his chauffeur. The turkeys were delivered every year in Bristol, Terryville, Forestville and Plainville for at least 10 years back.
 Active in Social Work.
 While he took an interest in social and civic life and devoted much of his time to his personal manufacturing plants, most of his joy came from the work which he did in 9 religious line. He was considered the staunchest Methodist in the state He built Pros pect Methodist church and paid the entire cost of its maintenance. For years back he had hired a trained choir to assist at the services each Sunday including such singers as Mrs. Clara Oakes Usher of Plainville, and Miss Jean Cochrane of New Britain. His chapel, manned Mount Hope. on Chippins Hill was built by him with sole desire of personal instruction. Each Sunday he drove to the place and taught Sunday school. He did the same in Prospect church. He always took great interest in the Plainville Camp Ground and was an active mem- Der of the association until recently. He served as trustee for many years He had a cottage on the grounds. He was personally acquainted with the leading Methodists of the state and had a large number of friends in the denomination from all over the coun- try. MT. Sessions made courtesy a rule of his life and lived up to it to his last days. At any time of the day or night anyone wishing to get into touch with him could do so. He never denied himself to persons rich or poor. who sought him.