Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

tended St. Mary's Roman Catholic
Church.
(Ill) John Edward O'Sullivan, son of
John and Mary (Ryan) O'Sullivan, was
born December 15, 1861. He was educated
in the public schools of Norwalk,
Connecticut. After completing these
courses he learned the trade of hat fin-
isher, which he followed for some years,
and then went to work for his father. In
1893 the latter had purchased the Dorian's
House, and the son was placed in charge
of the management there. His agreeable
personality and genial manners won
many friends for him, and his success
was assured. In 1908 his father sold the
property and it was at this time that John
E. O'Sullivan purchased the adjacent
property, which he now owns. He has
about eight acres of beautiful shore property
and the present Dorian's house and
pavilion were built by him. It has a seating
capacity for four hundred people and
is one of the most popular of the shore
resorts. The greater part of Mr. O'Sul-
livan's time is required in his business,
but at the same time he is alert to the
issues of the day and takes a keen inter-
est in all public matters. Fraternally he
is a member of the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of Elks.
Mr. O'Sullivan married Margaret Bernard,
daughter of Thomas Bernard, and
they are the parents of three children
Marguerite, John, Jean.
BALLARD, Harry A.,
Contractor, Builder.
Harry A. Ballard, a prominent contrac-
tor and builder of Stamford, Connecti-
cut, is a scion of a family which took root
in America with the colonization of New
England. The surname is one of the
oldest in English records, and to-day
there are descendants of the immigrant
:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
412
settled in practically every New England
State.
The ancestor of the family was William
Ballard, who was born in 1603, and died
in Andover, Massachusetts, July 10, 1689.
He came to America from England in
1635 in the "James," was one of the earl-
iest settlers of Andover, and was admit-
ted a freeman there, May 2, 1638.
Harry A. Ballard was born in Port
Chester, New York, in 1857, and when he
was about a year old was brought by his
parents to live in Stamford, Connecticut.
There he attended the public schools, and
soon after completing his courses went to
work for the Stamford National Bank,
remaining for five years. The building
business conducted by the father of Mr.
Ballard had grown and expanded to such
an extent that it was necessary to dis-
tribute the responsibility. In order that
he would be ready to assume the same at
the proper time, Mr. Ballard resigned
from the banking business and learned
the trade of mason. Upon the death of
his father, he succeeded to his interests
and has since been engaged in contracting
and building work. It is in Stamford
and vicinity that the major portion of the
work is carried on and a large number of
men are employed on an average. About
three years ago, Mr. Ballard engaged in
a real estate and insurance business,
which he carries on in connection with
his building operations and in this he has
been signally successful. In politics Mr.
Ballard is a Republican, and although not
a seeker for office, is much interested in
all public matters.
INGERSOLL, Samuel C.,
Clergyman.
The personal biography of an individual
is similar to a landmark in the history of
the race. If it were not for the achieve-