Читать книгу History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Volume 2: Biographical - George Curtis Waldo jr. - Страница 17

Edmund S. Hawley was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, June 15, 1813. His life was intimately connected with the early commercial and financial expansion of Bridgeport, and he himself was one of the prominent figures of his time.

The Hawley family is one of the oldest families in Bridgeport and traces its lineage through the early English settlers of New England. In 1629 Joseph Hawley came to this country from Derbyshire, England, and settled in Stratford, Connecticut.

Edmund S. Hawley was a son of Captain Wilson Hawley and Charity (Summers) Hawley. His father. Captain Wilson Hawley, was for many years engaged in the West Indies trade and as a member of the firm of Abijah Hawley & Company carried on an extensive coastwise trade in grain and lumber along the Atlantic seaboard. The firm of Abijah Hawley & Company operated a store and wharf on Water street, south of State street, near the site later occupied by the grain elevator of John Hurd.

About the time that he reached his majority, Edmund S. Hawley went to Catskill, New York, where he was engaged in business for about six years. During his stay at Catskill he was elected a director of the Catskill Bank, in which capacity he continued until his return to Bridgeport in 1840. Upon returning to Bridgeport, Mr. Hawley entered the dry goods and clothing business and opened the first ready-made clothing store in the city.

Mr. Hawley in 1849 became interested in the California trade and made extensive shipments of merchandise to the Pacific coast during the period following the gold discoveries in the west. At this time he was associated with Sherwood Sterling, Thomas C. Wordin, his father-in-law, and Munson Hawley. During these years Mr. Hawley acquired extensive holdings of real estate within the present city limits.

In 1852 Edmund S. Hawley was appointed a director of the Bridgeport Bank and served as such until 1859, when he became president of the Farmers Bank, now the First -Bridgeport National Bank. As president Mr. Hawley directed the policies of the bank for thirty-three years.

Mr. Hawley had been selected as one of the trustees of the Bridgeport Savings Bank in 1851, and in 1870 he was elected vice president of that bank. In 1875 he became president of the Bridgeport Savings Bank. He was connected with this bank as trustee, vice president and president for over forty years. In 1859, at the time he accepted the presidency of the Farmers Bank, Mr. Hawley had disposed of his commercial interests in order that his energies might be concentrated upon the increasing duties arising out of his connection with the two banks.

In 1842 Edmund S. Hawley married Lucy S., daughter of Thomas C. Wordin. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley had two children, a son, Charles W., and a daughter, Mary W., both of whom still reside in Bridgeport.

Always a man of progressive intelligence and physical vigor, Edmund S. Hawley contributed much to the upbuilding of his city and maintained an active interest in business, in banking and finance until his death in his eighty-first year. He died February 10, 1894, at the height of his success, loved and admired by a large circle of friends, and meriting the honor and respect of all those who knew him.