Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

the Manchester police force, now at the
United States Naval Training Station,
Pelham Bay, New York; William P., an
undertaker in Manchester; and Thomas
James, of whom further.
Thomas James Quish was born March
8, 1889, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and
was a child when he came with his par-
ents to South Manchester. There he at-
tended the public schools, and made such
excellent use of his time that he was grad-
uated from the High School in 1907.
Soon after he entered Trinity College, in
Hartford, from which he was graduated
with the degree of B. S. in 1912. During
his course in college he utilized some of
the time as a reporter on the Hartford
''Evening Post," and was thus enabled
to earn his expenses in college. After
graduation, he continued in the service of
newspapers up to the time of his appointment
as postmaster at South Manchester,
for which he received a commission, July
10, 1913. His home has been continu-
ously in Manchester, and before his ap-
pointment to his present office, he served
as justice of the peace, beginning at the
early age of twenty-one years. He was
also for two years town auditor, and has
been a member of the Democratic town
committee for several years, having been
active in promoting the interests of that
party since attaining his majority. He has
been active in many social interests, is
a faithful member of Saint James' Roman
Catholic Church of Manchester, of the
local lodge of the Knights of Columbus,
and Modern Woodmen of America. He
has served as grand knight of the former
lodge, and was delegate to the Supreme
Convention of the Order, which was held
in Davenport, Iowa, in 1916. Mr. Quish
is president of the Manchester City Club,
and a member of the Manchester Cham-
ber of Commerce, and was very active in
the campaign of 1916, as a member of the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
240
Wilson and Marshall Democratic Club.
He is well-known as actively interested
in every undertaking calculated to promote
the progress and the welfare of his
native city. His popularity has not been
gained through inherited wealth or any
temporary manifestation of public ap-
proval, but by his universal courtesy, his
genial nature and kindness to all with
whom he may be brought in contact.
SMEAD, Edwin Billings,
Practical Philanthropist.
The most practical philanthropy is that
which enables those to be benefited to
help themselves. That is the principle
upon which the Watkinson Farm School
was established, its object being the pa-
ternal care of boys who through adverse
circumstances are in need of employment
and inspiration to develop them into
good and loyal citizens. From 1884 to
1917, a period of thirty-three years, Mr.
Smead was principal of the school which
was established through the liberality of
David Watkinson, who by will made the
school and the Watkinson Reference Li-
brary equal residuary legatees. That he
was so long retained as head of that valu-
able institution was the best evidence of
his fitness for the position.
The Smead line in New England traces
to Widow Judith Denman, who about the
year 1634 married a Mr. Smead, by whom
she had a son, William Smead, born in
1635, who was made a freeman of Northampton,
Massachusetts, in 1660, and died
prior to 1704. He married Elizabeth
Lawrence, of Hingham, Massachusetts,
who was captured by the Indians in 1704,
and died on the journey to Canada. Their
son, Ebenezer Smead, born in 1675, mar-
ried Esther Catlin. Their son, Jonathan
Smead, born in 1707, married Mehitable
Nims. Their son, Jonathan Smead, born