Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

of Old Well Lx)dge, No. io8, Free and
Accepted Masons ; Butler Chapter, No.
38, Royal Arch Masons ; Clinton Commandery,
No. 3, Knights Templar ; Monker
Grotto ; Improved Order of Red Men
Loyal Order of Moose ; Olive Branch
Lodge, Knights of Pythias, is past grand
chancellor of the Grand Lodge of Con-
necticut ; and
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
is a member of D. O. K. K.
of New Britain. Mr. Candee is a director
of the People's Trust Company of South
Norwalk.
Mr. Candee married, June 29, 1901,
Annie M. Chunn, daughter of Mark B.
Chunn, of St. Mary's county, Maryland.
Their children :
Mark Chunn and Marjorie
Dent, twins, born October 22, 1903, in
New Haven ; Randolph Frederick, born
June 29, 1905, died July 10, 1909; and
Dorothy Caroline, born April 19, 191 1.
GILLESPIE, "WUliam Wright,
Pnblisher, Merchant.
To be richly endowed with many and
varied talents, to be blessed with abound-
ing vitality making possible their development,
to be born of cultivated parents
who know how to nurture the human
soul, and to possess a personality of such
rare charm as to make one universally
beloved, falls to the lot of few men. It
was the heritage of the late William
Wright Gillespie. From the time he became
a resident of Stamford, Connecticut,
until his death, nearly half a century later,
there was scarcely a phase of the com-
munity's life in which he was not active
and always constructively. His graceful,
yet forceful, pen, his masterly oratory,
and his sound business judgment were
ever ready to forward the best interests
of Town, State and Nation. Uncompromising
in his intellectual integrity, he
was fearless in denouncing wrong and
bold in upholding the right, according to
346
his light. And he was a man of unusually
keen perception. His daily life was an
exemplification of the fundamentals of
Christianity—he showed his faith by his
works ; and it is fair to say that in his
day and generation no citizen of Stamford
wielded a more potent influence for good.
The name Gillespie is derived from the
Gaelic compound word, Gille-espuaig, and
signifies "the servant of the Bishop."
William Wright Gillespie was born in
Knockdrin, County Westmeath, Ireland,
October 16, 1839, and died in Stamford,
Connecticut, December 30, 1907. His
ancestors were of that sturdy Scotch stock
who suffered so much for their faith, and
who have contributed so many substantial
citizens to America.
(I) John Gillespie, grandfather of William
W. Gillespie, was born in County
Tyrone, Ireland. He was a linen weaver
and farmer. He married Helen Scott,
who lived to the great age of one hundred
and four years.
(II) John (2) Gillespie, son of John
(i) and Helen (Scott) Gillespie, was born
in Dunmackmay, County Tyrone, Ireland,
May 5, 1805. He was educated in Trin-
ity College, Dublin, and after his graduation
tutored in some of the leading fam-
ilies of the county. Later he became a
teacher in the national schools, although,
as circumstances permitted, he also continued
his work as a tutor. He wooed and
won Mary J. Cunningham, who was also
a teacher in the national schools. Husband
and wife, after their marriage, continued
in their vocation of teaching. They
were the parents of thirteen children, of
whom the following grew to maturity
Anna E., now deceased, married James
Cunningham ; George, now deceased, be-
came a prominent business man and alder-
man of Toronto, Canada ; Rev. John, now
deceased, was for many years rector of the
Church of the Messiah in Toronto; Wil-
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