Person:Henry Connolly (1)

His obituary in the Newark [N.J.] Evening News (Tuesday, 23 April 1935) says that “when he became of voting age, Mr. Connolly had settled in Nutley and was the second person to vote a Democratic ticket in that town.”

The obituary continues: "A butcher, his avocation early became politics. He lived first in New street, but moved to his present home, which he had built at 304 Highfield Lane, in order to accommodate the Franklin Post Office when he was appointed postmaster." He installed the post office in his butcher shop on September 28, 1895. The obituary continues: “That office was later removed to what is now Town Hall, but Connolly remained postmaster eight years. His next venture into politics was his election to Franklin Township Committee, which he served as treasurer for many years. He was one of those instrumental in changing the name of the town from Franklin to Nutley, the name being chosen because of the great number of chestnut trees. Mr. Connolly later was elected for two terms to the Essex County Board of Freeholders. He was also a local magistrate many years and a state motor vehicle agent.

He was a member of Nutley's first volunteer fire department and a charter member of the Franklin Building and Loan Association. He was secretary of the latter until five years ago. He was treasurer and a trustee of St. Mary's Church for forty years and was the first president of the old St. Mary's Lyceum."

According to the 1920 Census, where his occupation is given as "fire insurance agent," he was naturalized in 1885.

The obituary fails to mention that he was married four times and out-lived all four wives. First wife Louisa Freeman and second wife Katherine Freeman were sisters. Katherine was living with Henry and Louis in Franklin in 1895. Third wife Florence Freeman was apparently a cousin to the other Freemans. Curiously, Katherine Freeman is not given as one of his wives in his Nutley [N.J.]News obituary (26 April 1935, p.1).

Howard R. Garis, in his My Father Was Uncle Wiggily, offers a description of Henry Connolly coming to call on Garis's aunt, Euphrasia, called "Dada," who became Henry Connolly's fourth wife.

1. ↑ Municipalities of Essex County, New Jersey, 1666-1924. (New York, NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1925)
   vol. 4, p. 348.