Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

eason to be satisfied with his progress
in professional life, which has come to
him by strict adherence, in his dealings
with his clients, to the principles of
squareness and fairness such as he is
retained to seek for them in the courts.
He has the confidence of an extensive and
increasing clientele. But notwithstand-
ing his professional ties, he finds time to
participate to some extent in public
affairs. He resides in Windsor, and for
several years has served that town as jus-
tice of the peace ; and his interest in the
progress of Hartford has been shown on
more than one occasion. He is the presi-
dent of the Kiwanis Club of Hartford, a
business men's organization, similar to
and affiliated with other clubs throughout
the United States and Canada. He
was one of those most prominent in the
organization of the Kiwanis Club, in 1916,
and was elected its first president. And
to some extent he also comes into busi-
ness circles, in executive capacity, for he
is secretary and treasurer of the Merwin
Paper Company, of Poquonock, Windsor.
Fraternally he is a Mason, member
of Washington Lodge, No. 70, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, of Windsor.
Attorney Thompson, on November 15,
1895, married, at Ellington, Connecticut,
Selina J. Evans, of that place, and three
children have been born to them: 1.
Winnifred Mabelle, who was born in New
Britain, Connecticut, December 3, 1896,
but who died on January 26, 1898. 2.
Reginald Everett, who was born on Au-
gust 29, 1904, at Hartford, Connecticut.
3. Royal W., Jr., who was born on April
15, 1906, in Washington, D. C.
HITCHCOCK, Henry P.,
Merchant.
One of the leading citizens and also
one of the most interesting of the city of
Hartford, Connecticut, Henry P. Hitch-
Conn—5— 12 I
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
77
cock was born there June I, 1837, the son
of Lambert and Mary Anne (Preston)
Hitchcock.
The house in which he was born was
of historical note and for many years
stood at the corner of High and Walnut
streets, known as the old Sigournej
Homestead, being occupied for a long
time by Mrs. Lydia Sigourney. The boyhood
of Major Hitchcock was spent in
Farmington, Connecticut, whence his
father had removed soon after his birth.
He attended the local schools of that
town and also was a pupil at the cele-
brated academy of Deacon Hart, many of
whose graduates have since made them-
selves famous in the business and pro-
fessional world. The death of his father,
which occurred in 1852, made it necessary
that the boy seek means of employment
and accordingly he went to Hart-
ford where he secured a position with the
firm of N. J. Brockett & Company, Clothiers,
then located on State street. For
ten years he remained in this employment,
and although he received the mea-
gre sum of twenty-five dollars a year, the
same impelling spirit which brought suc-
cess to him later in life enabled him to lay
aside a sufficient amount so that he was
able to engage in business for himself in
partnership with a Mr. Kelsey and a Mr.
Carpenter under the style of Kelsey, Car-
penter & Hitchcock. In 1863, at the re-
tirement from the firm of Mr. Carpenter,
the business was continued as Kelsey &
Hitchcock for nineteen years, at which
time Major Hitchcock was the sole part-
ner and successfully conducted a flourish-
ing business. Subsequently, after a short
rest from active business life, Major
Hitchcock again established himself in
business in the very location he had
started out as a boy and which he con-
tinued with remarkable success until his
death.
Although he carefully looked after even