Source: https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio12inbeer
Scan label: 633
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 637 six children, namely: Henry Whitney, the eldest, is the only survivor. Gustavus B. died young from \s hooping cough. Robert P., who never married, was drowned in Guilford, Conn., when about forty- nine years old. Eunice L. married George H. Gor- fiain, of Hamden, where she died leaving one son, Henry J. Catherine T. was twice married, her sec- ond husband being Cornelius Warner ; she died in Hamden leaving two children, Warren C, and Catherine T. Warner, twins. Mary T. married John H. Piatt, of New Haven, and died at Sara- tot-a, N. Y., leaving: no children. Henry W. Munson spent his early life in the nianner of most boys of his time. He attended pri- vate schools and completed his education in the old Temple, comer of Orange and Court streets, in New Haven, under the instruction of Prof. Mills. From boyhood he was handy with tools, seeming to inherit the mechanical skill of his father, and his practical training was almost entirely along me- chanical lines. At the age of twenty-one he became a stockholder in the concern of Mtmson, Morse & Co., New Hftven. Four years later he removed to Bridgeport and entered the employ of the Win- chester Repeating Arms Co., remaining at that place until 1871. While there he did considerable con- tract work as a gun maker. He then returned to New Haven, and in 1871 was made superintendent of the gun department of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co.'s plant at that place,- which responsible position he most capably and acceptably filled until 1885. Since then he has done considerable contract work in New Haven, sprinkling the streets of the city for twelve years, but is now living retired, hav- ing by years of activity acquired sufficient capital to enable him to lay aside all business cares, and to spend his remaining days in ease and quiet. He was always a wide-awake, energetic business man, gen- erally carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. His success in life has not consisted merely in amassing worldly possessions, but in doing at all times and doing well the duties, as he sees them, of a good citizen. Whatever trust he has held, has served only to bring forth the noble qualities of the man. Plain and approachable, suc- Cf 'S has not changed him personally. His capital «n life when he began the struggle consisted only "S nis mechanical skill and enersry, with which equip- "j*!"^ he has won a position of affluence and respect- iuility, and although his business affairs have de- manded much of his time, he has never shirked the c-i:ty of a generous citizen. Mr. Munson is a well presen-rd man, in mind and body. He has retired at an ai.,'e when he is able to enjoy the fruits of a busy and much more than ordinarifv successful life. lie has a pleasant home in Hamden. Mr. Nlunson was married. May 16, i860, to Miss Lottie A. Thomas, a native of New Haven, born Sept. 3, 1838, daughter of Gen. Amos Thomas, a promment officer in the Connecticut State militia. To this union two children have been born : Jennie A. died at the age of six and a half years. Codie May, bom Feb. 21, 1870, was married May 2, 1889, to John Orrin Shares, and they have one son, Lester Munson, born Jan. 16, 1892. They reside in Ham- den with our subject. Mr. Shares is a son of Horace P. and Charlotte (Ives) Shares, and is a prominent young manufacturer of Cheshire ; in 1897 he represented Hamden in the Connecticut Legis- lature, serving as clerk of the committee on roads, rivers and bridges. In political sentiment Mr. Munson is a staunch Republican, and has served his town as selectman, and in 1885 was a member of the Legislature. Fra- ternally he is a member of Day Sprint,^ Lodire, No. 30, F. & A. M., of Hamden, and of the Knights of Honor, and religiously he has been an active mem- ber of Whitneyville Congregational Church for over twenty years, and a deacon of the same since about 1882. He is a man of exemplary habits, commend- able purpose and unbending integrity, and in all life's relations merits the confidence which is so freely accorded him. WILLIAM G. GALLAGER, Messenger of the United States Senate, and one of Meriden's most respected citizens, was born in Newark, N. J., Aug. 9, 1846, of ancestors who were among the earliest settlers of New Jersey. Jacob Gallager, the great-grandfather of Will- iam G., was a brave soldier in the war of the Revo- lution and lost his life at the battle of Germantown. His son, Jacob Gallager, made his home in Philadel- phia, where he married a daughter of Dr. J. Durang, a native of France, who had come to the United States in 1767 and later joined Gen. LaFayette; during the Revolutionarv' w-ar he accompanied the army as surgeon. The Doctor's two sons, Ferdi- nand and Francis, participated in the war of 1812, and it was the former of these, Ferdinand Durang, who put the citizens of the United States under last- ing obligation to him, for he was the talented musi- cian who set to music the "Star Spangled Banner." James Gallager, the father of William G., son of Jacob, and grandson of Jacob Gallager and Dr. Durang, was born in Philadelphia, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of cooper. For the most part he was self-educated, but during his attendance at school he was a schoolmate; of Ed- win Forrest, the actor. Later Mr. Gallager became a minister in the Universalist Church, and preached through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut, while in Meriden holding his services in Odd Fel- lows Hall. From Meriden he removed to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, and preached there a short time, but his useful career was ended at the early age of forty-six years : his remains were taken back to Newark and laid beside those of his wife in Fair- mont cemetery. His death deprived the world of a good man and an excellent citizen, who fulfilled every duty of life in a most exemplary manner. Rev. James Gallager married for his first wife