Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

siderate of those in his employ, and he
takes a vital interest in the welfare of the
employees of his business. He is a member
of Wyllys Lodge, No. 99, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, of West
Hartford ;
the Hartford Automobile Club,
the City Club of Hartford, Hartford
Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers'
Association of Collection, Hartford Gun
Club, and the Amateur Trapshooters' As-
sociation. His recreations are found in
shooting and fishing.
Mr. Keeney married Minnie E., daughter
of Joseph H. Strong, of West Hart-
ford, and they are the parents of a son,
Charles Edward, born June 10, 1898. Mr.
and Mrs. Keeney are members of the
West Hartford Congregational Church.
PUTNAM, Herbert Elmer,
Building Contractor.
In every environment there is some
great possibility. Many men go far in
the search for opportunity, when all the
time she stands close beside their doors.
Most young men who find themselves in
remote country districts feel that they
are debarred from participation in the
real activities in the world of men and
affairs because they are so far from the
centers of population. Now and then a
young man will see what every man
should seek—the opportunity near at
hand. Herbert Elmer Putnam saw on his
father's farm the timber for which there
was a demand—when a hand of skill
should place it in marketable shape.
With the enthusiasm of youth he set to
work to make his future out of the opportunity
nearest him. The story of how
this led him into his present business is
only one more proof of his wisdom, and
an example of the genius for execution
with which he is endowed.
Putnam is an ancient English sur-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
name. It was derived from the place in
which the man who first bore the name
lived—Puttenham. We find mention
of this town in the Domesday Book
(1660). There was a great fief known as
the Honor of Leicester, of which the
town was a part. It is in Hertfordshire,
near Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Noteworthy characteristics of the Put-
Fine physique,
120
nam family have been :
fair features, high principles, honesty, in-
tegrity of purpose, patriotism, and an
inclination to lead rather than be led. All
American descendants of this line are
entitled to the following coat-of-arms
Arms—Sable between eight crosses, crosslet
fitchee, argent a stork of the last, beaked and
legged gules.
Crest—A wolf's head gules.
The American ancestor of the Putnam
family was John Putnam, of Aston Abbott,
County of Bucks, England, born
about 1580, came to New England about
1634. He was a son of Nicholas Putnam
(1598), son of Richard (1523-56) ;
:
son of
Henry, living in 1527; son of Nicholas,
born in 1460; son of Sir George (1408-73)
son of William Puttenham. The line is
traced back to Simon de Puttenham, who
was living in 1199 The de was dropped
from the name in the thirteenth century,
and Puttenham became Putnam in the
fifteenth century.
(I) John Putnam, the immigrant, mar-
ried in England, Priscilla Gould, and in
1634 came to New England, was admit-
ted to the Salem church in 1641, and there
died, suddenly, December 30, 1662. He
was a man of considerable education, and
a good penman, deeds in his handwriting
being extant.
(II) Lieutenant Thomas Putnam, eld-
est son of John and Priscilla (Gould)
Putnam, baptized at Aston Abbotts,
March 7, 1614, died in Salem Village,
;