Francis Conley

Former Norwalk Man Found Dead

Danbury – Oct 3 – (Special to the Hour)

Francis Conley, a Danbury insurance agent, was found dead in bed at his rooms in 55 Wildman [illegible] last night.  His death was attributed to natural causes and there was obviously no attempt at suicide.  The last seen of Conley, previous to the discovery of his body, was on Saturday afternoon.  He had lived in Danbury for about five years.

Mr. Conley was a native of Stamford, and it was said here that he was formerly a special police officer and constable in South Norwalk.  He was a member of Butler Lodge I.O.O.F. and Old Well Lodge F. and A.M. both of South Norwalk. 

[The Norwalk Hour, Oct. 3, 1917, Contributed by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

Eugene E. Cowan

Eugene E. Cowan of Church street died last evening shortly before6 o'clock of heart failure.   He has been in failing health for some time.   He leaves a wife and two small children.  He was a member of Centennial lodge, I.O.O.F. The funeral services will be held at the house tonight at 8:30 o'clock.  They will be conducted by the Rev. J. W. Ellsworth.   The remains will be taken to Greenville, N.Y.  via the New England road, tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock for interment.

The Naugatuck Daily News- April 1, 1897
[Submitted by N. Piper]

Friday, April 2, 1897

The funeral services over the remains of Eugene Cowan were conducted at 8:30 last night at the home of the deceased by the Rev. J. W. Ellsworth. The remains were taken toGreenville, N.Y., this morning on the 8 o’clock train from Waterbury for interment.  The pallbearers were from Centennial lodge, I.O.O.F. and were: Archie Egan, A. D. Hubbell, John Fox, Christian May, W. B. Hall and Oscar Van Siclen.  All but Messrs. Van Siclen and Hall accompanied the remains to their last resting place.

[Submitted by N. Piper]

Runa Rockwell

Mr. Runa Rockwell died at the house of his son in Brookfield on Saturday, September 24th, 1864, at the very advanced age of 91 years, 7 months and 13 days.  He was born in the town of Ridgefield, Parish of Ridgebury, February 11th, 1773.  The farm upon which he lived during much of his long life had been in the possession of the family since it was first purchased from the Indans.  His son truly says, 'the fact of his having lived to be so old, and his faculties so remarkably retained, are worthy of record, attesting the importance, and commending his example, of frugality, industry and temperance in all things.'  He was one of the foremost in the cause of temperance, abstaining himself and discountenancing in others the use of all intoxicating drinks, and abolishing the custor of 'treating his friends to liquor, as was usual in early times, and practiced by him until the evils of the use of ardent spirits began to be apparent.'  Mr. Rockwell had long been a member of the Congregational Church at Ridgebury.  He retained all of his faculties unimpaired up to the day of his death.  His memory was lucid and he loved to relate to his friends many incidents witnessed by himself connected with the Revolutionary War.  He well remembered the cutting down by the Tories of the first liberty-pole in Ridgebury, and the erection of another in its place by the Federals, who filled the second one with pot-metal, nails, etc., to prevent it from sharing the fate of the former one.  Also the confiscation of the property of some of his neighbors  (Tories), and their imprisonment for their sympathy with and giving aid and comfort to the enemy.  He had a vivid recollection of the burning of Danbury by the British, and of fleeing to the woods wit his father as the red-coats approached Ridgebury.  He outlived the use of pillions and gigs, and had the first four-wheel pleasure carriage ever built in Ridgebury.  Gas, steamboats, telegraphs, railroads, etc., were then unknown.  He traveled on horseback to the then far West, where it was nothing but a wilderness, passing through the present city of Rochester when it contained one log house, making the journey to the Falls of Niagara and crossing into Canada.  Having decided to locate there, he returned and made preparations to remove, but was detained by the breaking out of the War of 1812, rendering frontier life insecure for his family.  His married life was remarkable. Himself and wife were but seventerrn years of age when they were joined in marriage Nov 11th, 1790, by Rev. Samuel Camp, and lived happily together for about seventy years, he surviving his companion about four years.  During his life he saw the Government formed--saw it pass safely through all of its conflicts but the present.  His desire was great to witness the successful termination of the present struggle.  He had an abiding faith in the perpetuity of the Union, believing that in the future a greater destiny was in store for our country than it had yet witnessed.  He died calmly, sweetly falling to sleep.  Thus has passed away another link in the chain connecting us with the ever-glorious past and its band of heroes."

Mrs. Homer Twitchell

Lavinia, wife of Homer Twitchell, died this morning at her home on Main street, Union City, aged 73 years.  She has been an invalid for several years, but her death was rather sudden.  She was born in South Coventry, her maiden name being Lavinia Mason and she was married to Mr. Twitchell about 41 years ago. Since her marriage she has resided in Naugatuck, and by her kindly and pleasant disposition endeared herself to all who knew her.  The news of her death was received with great surprise and sadness by her many friends.  Homer Twitchell, her husband, is in Melrose, Fla.  He has been telegraphed for.  Beside her husband, Mrs. Twitchell leaves one son, Frank M. Twitchell, who, in company with his father, manufactures safety pins and umbrella ties at their factory on Main street, Union City.  The funeral will probably take place Tuesday afternoon.  The funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Sherrod Soule.  Interment will be in Grove cemetery.

Naugatuck Daily News -April 2, 1897
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]

Thomas Woodruff Walker