Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

ENCYCLOPEDIA <
Chicago now enjoys. Many of the Chi-
cago merchants whose names have since
become world-famous, had their start in
connection with Mr. Cooley's firm, the
firm of Field & Leiter, now Mar-hall
Field & ( < »mpany,
being perhaps the most
notable. It may truly be said that Mr.
Cooley was one of the founder- of Chicago's
great business prosperity. The
success ( the business which Mr. Cooley
founded was due largel} to his enterprise,
energy and industry, and to the husiness
foresight which enabled him to appreciate
the wonderful mercantile opportunities
which lay before the embryo metropolis.
I le was active in laying the foundation of
the infant city's future greatness, and
without ostentation or display he took a
very important part in the establishment
and management of several of the great
railroad companies centering the city, and
a number of the hanks and other financial
institutions.
In 1S65, Mr. Cooley removed to Hart-
ford, Connecticut, where he continued to
reside until his death, and was very active
in promoting many of its most important
husiness interests. For twenty-one years
he was president of the National Exchange
Bank, from which position he
retired in [886, taking then the position
of vice-president, in which he continued
until his death. For some time he was
president of the extensive manufacturing
»F l'.I« »GR XI'IIV
Broad Brook Company. He was one of
the United States tru I
the
Lion
Fire Insurance Company. After his re-
tirement from the presidency of the National
Exchange Bank, he did not engage
actively in business, although he main-
tained official connections with most of
the corporations with which he had been
identified. Mr. Cooley died November 25,
[904.
Mr. Cooley married, November 5, 1
Clarissa A. Smith, of Hadley, Massachu-
setts, a descendant of one of the pioneer
-cttlers of Hartford, namely, Lieutenant
Samuel Smith, who was born about 1602
in England, and with his wife and tl
children sailed April 30, 1634. in the ship
"Elizabeth" from [pswich, England. Soon
after, he settled in Wethersfield, Connec-
ticut, where he was a leading man. Later
he removed to Hadley, Massachusetts,
where he filled many offices in church and
town, and died in 1686. His wife was
born 1603-04, and died March 16, 1688. in
Hadley, at the age of eighty-four year-.
Their second son, Deacon Philip Smith,
was horn about 1633. in England, and
died January 10, 1685 ; according
to the
credulous Cotton Mather., "murdered with
-
an hideous witchcraft.' He was a prominent
man in the colony, lieutenant of the
militia, deacon of the church, and a representative
in the General Court. He
married Rebecca Foote, born about 1634,
firm of Landers, Frary & Clark, of New and died April 6, 1701, daughter of Na-
Britain, later resigning from these re-
sponsibilities to become vice-president.
At the time of his decease, he had been
six years president of the Society for
Savings of Hartford, and of the American
School for the Deaf in that city. He
served as director of various companies,
including the following: Phoenix Mutual
Life Insurance Company, Aetna Insur-
thaniel and Elizabeth (Deming) Foote,
of Wethersfield. Nathaniel Foote was
born about 1593, in England, and was one
of the first settlers of Wethersfield. where
he was a large landowner and represented
the town in the General Court. John
Smith, second son of Deacon Philip and
Rebecca (Foote) Smith, was horn Decem-
ber 18, 1661, and died April 16, 1727. in
ance Company, Hartford Steam Boiler In- Hadley. He married, November 29, [683,
spection and Insurance Company, and the Joanna Kellogg, who was born December
405