Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

York City. Through one of the collateral
lines, they also descend from one of the
early Dutch settlers of New York, the
Castle family.
Hudson Joseph Thayer, son of Frank
Whittemore and Jane (Clemons) Thayer,
was born November 13, 1889, in Waterbury,
Connecticut. His education was
obtained in the Waterbury public schools,
and then he entered the employ of the
Housatonic Water Company in their
meter department. For seven years he
continued in this position, and in 1913
was transferred to their Greenwich office,
where he remained for three years more.
He resigned his position to change his
employment and became associated with
Frank P. Haggerty, who was then engaged
in the livery and undertaking busi-
ness. So well did Mr. Thayer progress
that on February 1, 1918, he was in a
position to buy the livery department of
the business. Under the name of the
White Stripe Taxi Service, Mr. Thayer
carries on a very successful taxi business.
A progressive man, he has added materially
to his interests by opening a garage
service station and also has the agency
for the American Six Automobile. Not
only does he benefit himself, but he is the
means of giving employment to twenty-
eight men, and thus through the industry
and thrift of one man there are many more
benefited, thus proving the truth of what
one writer has aptly said : "The influence
of every individual reacts upon so many
that the life we singly lead is of the
greatest importance to the whole body
politic." Fraternally Mr. Thayer is a
member of the Improved Order of Red
Men, the Foresters of America, and the
Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Thayer married Anna Haggerty,
daughter of James Haggerty, of Greenwich,
and they are the parents of a daugh-
ter, Mary Genevieve Thayer.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
410
COYLE, John Francis,
Contractor, Builder.
Every man must make his own place in
the world. There comes a time in his
life when he discovers himself, and it is
then that he finds the years of labor and
experience have built a foundation upon
which he must stand for we are to-day
only what we made ourselves yesterday.
For fifteen years John F. Coyle, one of
the leading contractors of Westport, was
building the foundation upon which he
now stands. As a youth he learned the
trade of carpenter, which he followed as
a journeyman for several years, until he
was qualified to engage in business on
his own account.
(I) The grandfather of Mr. Coyle,
Michael Coyle, was born in the Parish of
Raharney, County Westmeath, Ireland,
and came to America in his later years
with his wife and children. He settled in
Westport, Connecticut, where he died.
(II) Michael (2) Coyle, son of Michael
(1) Coyle, was born in County Meath,
Ireland, and died aged about seventyseven
years. He was a young man
when he came to America, and for several
years followed farming in Westport,
Connecticut. Thence he removed
to the town of Tunnel, near Binghamp-
ton, New York, and was employed there
on the railroad tunnel. After the completion
of this work he returned to West-
port and lived there the remainder of his
life ; at times he worked solely at farming
and later was a stone mason. He
owned a farm of about twelve acres on
East Main street and there about forty-
five years ago he built a beautiful resi-
dence. Mr. Coyle made a specialty of
onion raising, in which he was very suc-
cessful. He married Rose Leonard,
daughter of Michael Leonard, of the Parish
of Kilbeggan, County Westmeath,