Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

greater part of his life in the immediate
vicinity. He married, on January 23,
1799, Clarissa Stocking, of Berlin, Con-
necticut.
(VII) Henry Hooker, grandfather of
Henry (2) Hooker, of Stamford, and son
of Saxa and Clarissa (Stocking) Hooker,
was the founder of the carriage business
in New Haven, which was established
in 1830, under the firm name of Henry
Hooker & Company. There was no city
in the Union which had then attained the
reputation enjoyed by New Haven for
the excellence of carriage building and the
manufacture of other vehicles. These
ranged from the light buggy to the stateliest
coach. For many years this was
New Haven's most important industry.
Mr. Hooker was the head of the firm dur-
ing his lifetime, and made his home in
New Haven, spending the summer
months at the old homestead in Kensing-
ton. He was considered one of the lead-
ing business men of the city ; the factory
was one of the largest of its kind, and
was well and favorably known. He married,
September 16, 1840, Charlotte Lum,
daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Lum)
Lum, of Oxford, Connecticut, born May
21, 1821.
(VIII) Norman Albert Hooker, son of
Henry and Charlotte (Lum) Hooker, was
born in New Haven, August 17, 1847. He
was educated at the Mount Pleasant Mil-
itary Academy, at Sing Sing, New York.
After completing his course he returned
to New Haven and there became associ-
ated with his father in business. As time
passed he became more and more a mov-
ing force in the business, and when his
father died he was elected secretary of the
company, and subsequently vice-presi-
dent. After becoming thoroughly familiar
with the business, he went to New
Orleans to take care of the company's
branch house in that city ; this was pre-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
158
vious to the Civil War. After peace was
declared, the Southern trade decreased so
sharply that it was no longer profitable,
and Mr. Hooker returned North, where
he continued his interest in the business
until shortly before his death. After his
retirement he lived at the old homestead
in Kensington, which had always remained
in the family. Mr. Hooker was
for many years a director of the Traut &
Hine Manufacturing Company, of New
Britain. He married, in 1869, Anna New-
ton, born January 28, 1853, daughter of
Erastus and Caroline (Zeiley) Newton.
Mr. Newton was a prominent lawyer of
Lockport, New York.
(IX) Henry (2) Hooker, of Stamford,
Connecticut, son of Norman Albert and
Anna (Newton) Hooker, was born in
New Haven, October 2, 1871. He re-
ceived his early education in that city,
then followed a course at Mount Pleasant
Military Academy. Returning to New
Haven, he entered the Sheffield Scientific
School of Yale University, from which he
was graduated in 1896 with the degree
of Bachelor of Philosophy. This equip-
ment, together with his native business
ability, he took into the carriage business,
where he was associated with his father
until about eight years ago.
By this time the automobile had so defi-
nitely superseded the horse and carriage
that the old line of business held no in-
terest for a man of Mr. Hooker's type.
Plunging into one of the vital interests
of the day, Mr. Hooker became associated
with the Remington Oil Engine Company,
of Stamford. This firm was organ-
ized in 1895, and manufactures an internal
combustion engine, using kerosene and
the lower grade oils for fuel. It is one
of the few engines which are successfully
combating the constantly increasing dif-
ficulties of power production through the
use of coal and gasoline. The Remington