Colton, Right Reverend Charles Henry, D. D., Catholic bishop of Buffalo; born in New York City, October 15, 1848; son of Patrick S. and Theresa (Mullin) Colton. He was graduated from St. Francis Xavier College, New York City, 1872; and in theology from St. Joseph Seminary, Troy, N. Y., 1876. He was ordained priest, June 10, 1876, and became assistant, 1876–1886, and rector, 1886–1903, of St. Stephen’s Church, New York City. He was chancellor of the archdiocese of New York, 1896–1903, and was consecrated bishop of the diocese of Buffalo, N. Y., August 24, 1903. Bishop Colton is author of: “Seedlings,” “My Trip to Rome,” “The Holy Land.” The Father of Bishop Colton was born in Ireland near Omagh, County Tyrone, and came to this country about 1818, settling first in York, Pa., afterwards in Baltimore, Md., till when he settled in New York City and remained till his death, August 11, 1876. He had one brother and three sisters, who remained in Baltimore and died there, leaving small issue. The mother of Bishop Colton was born in Ireland about 1824, of Thomas Mullin of Fintona, County Tyrone, and Mary Boyle of Donegal, County Donegal. She came to this country with her parents about 1827 and settled in New York City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral parish, Mott and Price streets. In 1846 she was married to Patrick Smith Colton by Bishop Loughlin of Brooklyn, N. Y., who then was Vicar General of the diocese of New York. She bore her husband nine children, viz.: John Smith, Charles Henry, Thomas Joseph, Francis, Mary Teresa, Catharine Alici, Margaret Anne, Josephine Baptista, and Mary Agnes. Francis and Catharine Alici died as infants. The rest are all living (April 25, 1909). Son John Smith Colton, who was ordained priest December 21, 1873, and died assistant pastor of St. Peter’s church, New Brighton, Staten Island, April 6, 1878, much beloved by everyone. Mrs. Teresa Augusta Colton lived in New York City from her coming about 1827 till her death, April 6, 1891. She had a brother and a sister, both born in New York City. The brother was John J. Mullin, who died September 17, 1861, unmarried. A young man of the highest character. He lived with his sister and her husband till death, aged thirty-one years. The sister, Mary Elizabeth Mullin, also made her home, as did her brother John, with Patrick S. Colton. Teresa A. Colton—She was born about 1836. When twenty-one years old, about 1859, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in the diocese of Brooklyn, and after filling several minor charges she was elected Superior of the Community in the year 1868 and continued Reverend Mother till August 15, 1892 (twenty-four years). She died aged fifty-six years, on January 1, 1893.
Conlon, Redmond P., was born on the family homestead near Amargh, Ireland, June 23, 1851. His father, William Conlon, was the only son of Redmond Conlon, who was a descendant of an old Irish family of that name, and who resided on the homestead farm where William and young Conlon first saw the light of day. His grandmother’s name was Phœbe Passmore, and his mother’s Catherine Sheridan, a descendant of the Sheridan family of Ballinarea. The subject of this sketch came to Newark, New Jersey, at the age of thirteen years and attended private schools and Bryant-Stratton and Newark business colleges. He spent one year at the carpenter’s trade, and was salesman for a local manufacturer for five years. In 1873, he entered the fire insurance business and is the senior member of the firm of R. P. Conlon & Son, Newark, New Jersey. He was commissioned by Governor Ludlow, lieutenant of Company A (Irish) First Regiment, N. G. N. J., in 1882, and was offered a higher command which he declined. He was appointed by Governor Abbett in 1891, Judge of the Second Criminal Court of the City of Newark, in which position he served until 1894, when the Courts were changed by the legislature. He has been an active member of the Newark Board of Trade for many years and is chairman of one of its most important committees. He has been a member of the society of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Newark, New Jersey, since its incorporation in 1871. The two years he served as president were among the most successful in its career. It was during his term as president of the society that a real Irish musical entertainment was organized to celebrate the 124th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Moore, of which “The Newark Evening News” spoke in part as follows:—
“Irish folk songs, sung in the Gaelic tongue; old Celtic airs played by a band of harpists; the skirl of bagpipes in quicksteps to which the ancient clans of Erin marched to battle, and melodious settings of some of the lyrics which have immortalized Thomas Moore, helped to make the concert, commemorating the 124th anniversary of the birthday of that poet and patriot, given under the auspices of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in the New Auditorium last night, the most unique and one of the most interesting and enjoyable musical entertainment to which attention has been invited here. The majority of persons in the large auditorium boasted Irish ancestors, but even to the most knowing music lovers among them much of what was heard was a revelation of Ireland’s riches in folk songs and other music of racial character and coloring, and of the beauty and charm of the Gaelic as a means of melodious utterance. It is generally conceded that the Italian language is more mellifluous than any other, when used in song. This assumption might well be disputed after listening to Mrs. O’Donnell’s singing in the Gaelic. Coming from her lips, the words which look so strange in print, and so opposed to beauty in utterance, melted into one another with a liquid smoothness comparable only to the purest effect obtained in Italian.”
It was on his advice that Grover Cleveland was invited to Newark on October 27, 1894, and acted as the Adjutant General in organizing the great demonstration which was the turning point of the campaign. In 1893, he was elected the first president of the New Jersey Association of Fire Underwriters and was four times re-elected. He was also president of the Underwriters’ Protective Association (Salvage Corps) Newark. At the formation of the Newark Fire Insurance Exchange in 1902, he was chosen president and declined re-election. On October 12, 1876, Mr. Conlon married Margaret Agnes Heery, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Heery, of Newark, New Jersey. They have three daughters and four sons living. The eldest son, William R., is affiliated with his father in business. Francis is a surveyor and engineer. Philip is due to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in June, 1910, and Joseph is a law student at the New York University.
Connor, Henry Groves, LL. D. Judge Connor was born in Wilmington, N. C., July 3, 1852; the son of David and Mary C. (Groves) Connor. He was educated in the town schools of Wilson; married in Wilson, Kate Whitfield, daughter of George Whitfield, afterwards his law partner; he practised at Wilson; was State Senator; Superior Court Judge, 1885–1893; Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1889; again member of the House of Representatives in 1901; was elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court January 1, 1903, and still continues to perform the duties of that office. Judge Connor has always been a consistent Democrat, and his party has shown appreciation of his value, in the high offices to which he has been chosen. For many years he was President of the Branch Banking Company, Wilson, N. C. He was President of the State Literary and Historical Association, 1901–1902. He delivered an address before the Law Class of the University of North Carolina in 1899; and at the Civic Celebration at Trinity College, February 22, 1899; before the Colonial Dames of North Carolina on their annual pilgrimage to Old Brunswick, 1902. He contributed to “Great American Lawyers” a sketch of Judge William Gaston; to the Biographical History of North Carolina sketches of Judges George Howard and Charles M. Cooke; to the North Carolina Booklet, Vol. IV., an article entitled “The Convention of 1788,” and in the present number one on “The Convention of 1835.” In 1908 the State University conferred on Judge Connor the honorary degree of LL. D.
Delehanty, John S., was born on April 6, 1851, in Albany, N. Y., was educated in the Christian Brothers Academy and finished schooling under the Rev. William Arthur, the father of the late President Chester A. Arthur, at Newtonville, N. Y. His early business training was with Edward Wilson & Co., successor to Erastus Corning & Co., in the hardware line from 1865 to 1870 inclusive. He left this concern to join his father in 1870, became a partner in 1880 and succeeded to the business on his father’s retirement in 1892. The concern is now in its seventieth year, being established in 1840. He has never held any political position but is a director of the Albany First National Bank, and a member of the Knights of Columbus, C. M. B. A. and Elks. He lost his wife in 1892 and has one daughter, Ethel M., and three brothers, Captain Daniel Delehanty, U. S. Navy (retired), Judge Francis B. Delehanty and William E. Delehanty, all of New York City. An elder sister is the wife of Ex-United States Senator Edward Murphy, Jr., of New York. There are two other sisters, Mary F. and Helen J.