Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

They were the parents of: Sarah, born
May 24, 1826, married John Powers;
Henry Edmund, born March 26, 1828,
married Cynthia Freeman ;
further mention ;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
George, of
Elizabeth, born October
9, 1833, married William Smith ; Marietta
Clarissa, born June 19, 1836, married A.
K. Conklin ; Rachel Isabel, born Decem-
ber 3, 1839; Fanny Amelia, born July 30,
1842, married John Anderson.
(VIII) George Leete, son of Henry
William Leete, was born in Wallingford,
Connecticut, April 6, 1830, and died March
2 3> I 9 I 5- He resided in Thompsonville,
Connecticut, and for over fifty years was
a foreman in the employ of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He
married Mary Coughlan, born in County
Cork, Ireland, in 1837 (now Queenstown).
Their children were : Eva Augusta, born
December 3, 1858, married James Davi-
Arthur Russell, of further mention
son ;
Edmund, born November 3, 1866, died
September 29, 1868; William, born 1869;
Edward, born October 14, 1870; Joseph,
born July 9, ; 1873 Fannie May, born July
13, 1881, died August 3, 1881.
(IX) Arthur Russell Leete, son of
George and Mary (Coughlan) Leete, was
born in Thompsonville, February 2, 1864,
where he died April 11, 1919. He attend-
ed the public school until thirteen years
of age. His first year after leaving school
was spent as credit boy in the Hartford
Carpet Mills. He then began his busi-
ness career as errand boy and clerk for
Niles Pease, original founder of the home
furnishing business, where he remained
about five years. He then formed a co-
partnership with J. E. Allen, under the
firm name of Allen & Leete, house fur-
nishers, and who bought the business of
Niles Pease. After a few years Mr. Allen,
the partner, retired, the business being
taken over by Arthur R. Leete, who con-
ducted it most successfully until his death.
;
34
He also had under his control a plumbing
business and a tinsmithing shop. He was
a thoroughly competent undertaker and
funeral director, and for twelve years was
president of the State Board of Embalmers.
Mr. Leete was active in the Board
of Trade interests in Thompsonville, and
served as its president from 1896 to 1900.
In 1918 he was elected again to this office
and served until his untimely death. He
was a member of the Enfield Business
Men's Association.
In politics, Mr. Leete was a loyal, ar-
dent Republican, and a member of the
town committee for two years. In 1909
he was elected representative from Enfield
and served as chairman of the com-
mittee on roads and bridges. He was a
member of the Connecticut Board of Examiners
of Embalmers, appointed by Gov-
ernor Frank B. Weeks. He served sev-
eral terms as a member of the town school
committee, and for fifteen years was a
member of the school committee, District
2, which comprised all the Thompsonville
schools. He was a director of the Con-
necticut Valley Waterways Association.
Mr. Leete was a thirty-second degree Mason,
and a member of Doric Lodge, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons ; he was
master of this lodge three terms, 1894-95-
96, and was a member of the board of
trustees. He was also a member of Wash-
ington Commandery of Suffield ; Suffield
Council ; Sphinx Temple of Hartford.
His clubs were the Calumet, Columbus
Fish and Game Club of Canada and
Springfield Fish and Game Club. He held
membership in the Enfield Society for the
Detection of Thieves and Robbers.
Mr. Leete married, June 21, 1892, in
Windsor, Connecticut, Jane Abigail
Tryon, born July 11, 1867, daughter of
Watson Tryon, the long time contractor
and builder, who built the Connecticut
State Capitol, one of the best constructed