Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

whom he ministered. Possessed of an acute,
but eccentric mind, he obtained celebrity not
only as a physician, l>u t .is a politician inch si
few enjoy. Elected on repeated occasions to
represent Manchester, the place of his nativity,
where he resided until 8 few years past, lie WSS
faithful to his trust. Ili^ wit, sarcasm and
eccentric speeches in the Legislature will long be
remembered. In all political matters he took
an absorbing interest, and was to the last moments
of his life an ardent supporter of Demo-
cratic principle, an advocate oi the present ad-
ministration, an excellent companion and a sin-
cere friend, with an inexhaustible fund of humor,
great originality and genuine benevolence, he
was always welcome to every circle. For many
rs he suffered with a painful disease that ter-
minated his existence. His spirit never forsook
him; he died with composure and resignation to
the Divine Will.
(VII) Dr. George Pitkin Cooley, son
of Dr. William (3) and Jerusha (Pitkin)
Cooley, was born in Manchester, Connec-
ticut, November 28, 1828. He attended
the public schools of East Hartford,
Hartford Center School, and the Phelps
Academy, at East Hartford. After leav-
ing school he was clerk in a drug store
owned by A. A. Cooley, of Hartford. He
began to study medicine with Dr. C. A.
Taft in 1850, and attended the New York
Medical College the following year.
Later he was a student at the Hahnemann
College, of Philadelphia, 1853-54,
and was graduated with the degree of
M. D. He first practiced at Bristol, Con-
necticut, for three years. In 1857 he lo-
cated at New Britain, and until very
recent years was still in active practice
there. He was one of the oldest and most
highly respected physicians in the State,
and for years was attending physician of
the Xew Britain General Hospital. He
was made a master mason in 1854, and is
a member of Franklin Lodge, of Bristol.
He married, April, 1865, Lucy Ann Peck,
a native of Berlin, Connecticut. The
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
73
children were : I )r. < I 'itkin 1
and Norman Peck, both mentioned below.
(VIII) Dr George Pitkin (2) Cooley,
son of Dr. ( ieorge Pitkin (1) and Luc) \nn
I Peck)
Cooley, was born in Xew Britain,
Connecticut. lie attended the public
and high schools there, and the Greylock
Seminary in Williamstown, Massachu-
setts. He prepared For his profession in
the Medical School of the Xew York Uni-
versity, and at the Hahnemann Medical
School, Chicago. He is surgcon-in-
eliarge of Grace Hospital, Detroit, Michi-
gan ;
also assistant surgeon-in-chief of
the Michigan Central Railroad Company.
(VI 1 1 ) Norman Peck Cooley, son of Dr.
George Pitkin (1) and Lucy Ann (Peck)
Cooley, was born in New Britain, August
8, 1869. He received his education at the
public and high schools of Xew Britain
and Greylock Seminary, Massachusetts.
He entered the employ of the Russell &
Erwin Manufacturing Company of New
Britain, manufacturers of hardware, and
remained with them for three years. He
then entered into a partnership with How-
ard S. Hart for the manufacture of cold
rolled steel. The plant was in South Chi-
cago, Illinois, and he continued there for
nine years. The business was then con-
solidated with other interests and he re-
turned to Xew Britain. Here he was one
of the founders of Hart & Cooley Company,
manufacturers of steel registers and
steel lockers. This company has come to
be one of the important manufacturing
establishments of Xew Britain. Mr.
Cooley has been actively interested in the
management of the company ever since
its organization, and much of the success
of the company has been due to his
natural gift for the practical application
of progressive business principles. Mr.
Cooley is a Republican in political affilia-
tion, though never seeking political pre-
_'
)