Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

five wagons. Mr. DeBarthc was a mem-
ber of Lincoln Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. DeBarthc married Mary A.., daugh-
ter of John Ellsworth Strong, of Hartford,
and sistrr of Harry Strong, of whom
we give a sketch elsewhere in this work.
Mrs. DeBarthe survives her husband, and
also the daughter, Mabel, who married
Horace R. ('.rant, of Wethersfield.
Mr. DeBarthe was a man of fine char-
acter and broad intelligence, optimistic,
genial, and in all his interests thoroughly
practical ; one of those men who are
needed sorely in our complex existence,
for the very spirit of good cheer which he
put into all his business relations, and the
sterling worth of his character.
ELLIOTT, William F.,
Business Man.
William F. Elliott, member of the firm
of Hennessey & Elliott, proprietors of
the "H. & E." Laundry in Hartford and
Bridgeport, Connecticut, is a representa-
tive of that sturdy Scotch-Irish stock that
has contributed so notably to the progress
and development of the United States and
Canada. High ideals of morality and
religion, practical business sense, energy
and thrift have characterized our citizens
of Irish descent. They had no ideas nor
customs to discard in taking their place as
American citizens ;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BI< >GRAPHY
their ideals of liberty
and righteousness are the same as those of
the Puritans and Pilgrims who established
our institutions, and here they have found
opportunity for self-development in what-
ever sphere of activity they might choose
that was denied them in the older and
more conservative environment of their
native land.
The name of Elliott has been variously
spelled. It appears in the early records
as Eliot, Elliot and Elliott. It has been
borne by many prominent representatives
ni" the i olonial days. Rev. John Eliot,
famous Indian Apostle, was the founder
of the Roxbury family of EliotS, and there
were three old early Colonial families
ben mil: tin- Dame.
William F. Elliott was born February
11, 1875, in St. John, New Brunswick,
of Christopher ami Margaret (Gale) El-
liott, and grandsoii of Robert Elliott
The latter was a native of Kimishillen, in
the north of Ireland, and came to
county, New Brunswick, about 1825, and
settled on the homestead on which Wil-
liam F. Elliott was born and where his
father still resides. Robert Elliott mar-
ried, the surname of his wife < being Iraham.
They were the parents of Christo-
pher Elliott, who was born about 1838,
and still resides on the paternal home-
stead, where throughout his entire life
he was engaged in agricultural pursuits.
It was on this homestead that the youth
of William F. Elliott was spent, and at
such intervals as he was not attending the
district school he was accustomed to
assist in the work about the farm, and
in this manner acquired a strong and
robust constitution, and thus laid tin-
foundation of physical vigor and developed
that personal initiative without
which no real success can be obtained.
Upon attaining the age of twenty-one
years, Mr. Elliott came to the I":
States and first located in !
Rhode Island. There he found
nee,
employment
as a fireman, and applied hims<
49
the team engineering, recer
in due time his license I
LtJonary
en-
gineer. Being of a mechanical bent, he
continued his studies along electrical lines
and was engaged in the latter business for
several years. In 1906 he removed to
Bridgeport, Connecticut, an.': I in
the laundry business in partnership with
Mr. Hennessey, under the firm name of
Hennessey & Elliott They established