"John Hooker (Samuel 2, Thomas 1), son of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Willet) Hooker of Farmington, Conn., born Feb. 20, 1664 or 1665; married Nov. 24, 1687, Abigail Standley, daughter of Capt. John and his second wife, Sarah (Fletcher) Standley, of Farmington, Conn., b. July 25, 1669, at Farmington.
Hon. John Hooker, was one of the most noted man of his day. For many years he was the leading man of the town. He was the magistrate who did most of the business of the town and was Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony from 1724 to 1732. He was a member of the Lower House of the Assembly from 1699 to 1723. He then went into the Upper House. He served twenty-one sessions of which he was Clerk two sessions, and Speaker, six. He was chosen assistant in 1723, and rechosen annually for eleven years. He was on important committees and was frequently sent to settle difficulties in towns, churches, etc.; he was charged with important public trusts, etc., and the papers in the file in the office of the Secretary of State, attest the carefulness, as well as the confidence, reposed in him.
When he married, his father purchased and gave him a site on the west side of the main street, some distance north of the Meeting House at Farmington, and here he built his house under the branches of a beautiful elm tree, where it soon became a center of generous hospitality, and a familiar gathering place for the sages of the town, who in the pleasant summer evenings seated under the leafy canopy of the Hooker Elm, discussed the passing events, while their long pipes gave forth clouds of fragrant incense, which curling upwards, dispensed itself among the leaves of the beautiful tree.
The "Hooker Elm" was a widely known feature of the pleasant street, famous through all the region round for its great beauty and the pleasant company which gathered under its canopy in the soft summer evenings.
In the course of events the estate passed on to Roger Hooker, a thorough gentleman of the old school, who prized the wide spreading "Hooker Elm," as his father had done, while he continued the far famed hospitality of the house, and greeting his friends under the beautiful tree, sped the time away with tale and jest, and merry quip. And again, another Roger, a polished gentleman, a Patriotic soldier, a delightful conversationalist, and a brilliant wit and a raconteur, did the honors of the house as his father and grand-father had done, and gathered his story loving, mirth appreciating friends beneath the famous 'Hooker Elm.'
Major Roger Hooker was the last Hooker occupant of the place dying without issue in 1830, the hospitable mansion and its stately guardian, the "Hooker Elm", passed into other hands and eventually into the possession of Mr. William Gay. The old house was torn out, rebuilt and modernized until scarcely a feature of it Hooker character remained, and as if to obliterate all memories and lingering Hooker associations, because the beautiful tree interfered with making a straight path from the front door to the street, an axe was laid at the roots and the famous "Hooker Elm," like the generations that had gathered under its leafy canopy, was laid low in the dust. Peace to it ashes- and the last vestige of the Hooker dynasty , together with the far famed beauty of the place, passed away.
A chronicler of those days left this account of Mr. Hooker. 'On Sunday the bell rang for a while for service and then commenced tolling. At the first stroke of the tolling Mr. Hooker issued from his house and proceeded to the Meeting House, and the minister in like manner started from his house, which-ever arrived first at the Meeting House door awaited the arrival of the other; and together they entered the building, as they entered the door the bell stopped tolling, and all the congregation arose to their feet and remained standing while the two walked the aisle together. Mr. Hooker stopped at his pew door-the first pew-and waited until the minister ascended the pulpit stairs, then entering his pew, they both sat down at the same time and then the congregation seated itself. When the service was over, Mr. Hooker stepped out side his pew door, and this was a signal for the congregation to arise and remain standing, at the pew door Mr. Hooker remained until joined by the minister, when they walked down the aisle together to the door, where they took their stand, outside in good weather and inside in bad weather.'
'When they were in place, this was a signal to the congregation, who until that time had remained standing in their pews. The pew doors were thrown open, and the people pass out, all bowing as they passed the minister and Mr. Hooker, bowing to each other, shook hands and then proceeded to their homes.'
The chronicler also describes the ending of the Sunday rigidness. 'The holiness of the day was supposed to end at sunset, but not a child in the town dared to stir, until the signal came from Mr. Hooker that the day was ended. When the sun had sunk below the horizon, Mr. Hooker, coming to his door with his pipe in his hand, walked down the path to the gate and leaning over it rested his arms upon the top. The moment his arms touched the gate, open flew the doors and out came the children with a wild rush and shout - Mr. Hooker was at his gate, Sunday was over. The Shout was taken up and spread to the furtherest ends of the town with a rapidity that would almost put the telegram of the present day to the blush. Mr. Hooker with his pipe was at the gate and Sunday was ended.'
Roger Hooker leaves this note of Mr. Hooker's appearance. 'Mr. John Hooker ad dark hair with dark eyes, and dignity in his air and expression that procured profound respect.' Another description of Mr. Hooker says: 'He was a fine looking tall man, tall, very erect, and had a prominent large nose.'
John Hooker died at Farmington, Feb. 21, 1745 or 1746. His wife died at Farmington, Feb. 21, 1742 or 1743."
