http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

28 March 2009

COOGAN story appearing in "Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, 
genealogical-memorial; representative citizens;" (S. Hart, 1917) 
[PAGES 54-55]:


COOGAN, John William 

Attorney-at-Law

One of the oldest practicing lawyers in the city of Hartford, 
where he has been in continuous practice since 1879, Mr. Coogan 
has so kept abreast of the times that he was choice of the last 
mayor of Hartford, Joseph H. Lawler, for corporation counsel, 
retiring from that office with that official in April 1916.  His 
public service has been of a high order, extending to legislative 
halls, while his practice has included some of the most 
celebrated cases tried at the Hartford bar.  He is of the first 
American born generation of the family, the Coogans being an 
ancient family of Ireland, from whence came the grandfather, 
Daniel Coogan, bringing with him his son, James Coogan, father of 
John W. Coogan, of this review.  

Daniel Coogan, grandfather, was a paper maker by trade, and upon 
his arrival in this country located at Lee, Massachusetts.  His 
death occurred in the town of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, at the 
great age of ninety-six years.  Among the many children of Daniel 
Coogan was James Coogan, born in Ireland, a paper maker by trade, 
who later became superintendent of a paper mill in Windsor Locks, 
Connecticut, and for many years prior to his death successfully 
conducted a store.  He was active in civic matters and held 
various town offices, serving as member of the Legislature in 
1865 (first Catholic to fill position in Connecticut), and member 
of the Board of Selectmen at Windsor Locks for a number of years.  
He married Eliza Byrne, a native of Ireland who died at Windsor 
Locks in 1867, aged forty-nine.  They were the parents of eight 
children: Edward D.; James T.; Timothy C.; Joseph A.; Elizabeth, 
became the wife of James B. Benson, of Windsor Locks; John 
William, of whom further; Mary J., a Sister of Mercy known as 
Sister M. Laurentia; and one child, deceased.  The sons of James 
Coogan all became men of prominence in their community; Dr. 
Joseph A. Coogan was the only male member of the family who of 
the family who did not sit in the State Legislature as a duly 
elected member, and he could have borne the same distinction but 
his profession was to him a higher obligation and he steadily 
devoted himself to its duties in Hartford and Windsor Locks. 
Timothy C., an eminent member of the bar, served three times as 
State senator in Connecticut and later moved to San Francisco, 
California, where he was equally prominent in the law.  As his 
father in the Lower House of the Legislature of the State of 
Connecticut, so Timothy C. Coogan was the first adherent of the 
Catholic faith to serve as State Senator in Connecticut. 

John William Coogan, fifth son of James and Eliza (Byrne) Coogan, 
was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, June 3. 1855. After 
public school courses at Windsor Locks, where his early years were 
passed, he entered Fordham University, New York, where he pursued 
a full course, terminating with his graduation in the class of 
1876 with the degree of A. B.  The brother, Timothy C. Coogan, 
then in successful law practice at Thompsonville, admitted him as 
a law student, and he afterwards entered the law office of Hon. 
William C. Case at New Haven and while there entered the Yale Law 
School.  In 1878 Fordham University conferred on him the degree of 
Master of Arts, and in 1912 the degree of L. L. D.  In 1879 he was 
graduated from the Yale Law School with the degree of LL. B. He 
was at once admitted to the Hartford county bar, and from that 
time has been continuously in practice in the city of Hartford, 
transacting a large business in all State and Federal courts of 
the district.  He has gained an enviable prominence in his 
profession and has ably and successfully conducted some of the 
most celebrated cases in the annals of the bar with which he is 
connected.  He is a member of the various bar associations, and is 
highly regarded by his professional brethren, while the public-at-
large regard him with particular favor.  His law library is said 
to be one of the most extensive in the State. Always a student, he 
has surrounded himself with the best of law authorities, 
references and histories. Genial and courteous in manner, he has a 
host of friends, his personality and his ability combining to 
produce a strong and lovable character. 

Mr. Coogan inherited the family taste for participating in 
political affairs, and from youthful manhood has borne a leading 
part in party and city affairs. For two years he was prosecuting 
attorney for the city of Hartford; for many years was a grand 
juror; was a member of the State Legislature in 1882, serving on 
the committee of cities and boroughs; was a member of the Board of 
Street Commissioners, 1900-03 and 1903-06, and during the 
administration of Mayor Lawler was corporation counsel for the 
city of Hartford. A Democrat in his political faith, he has ever 
been potent in party councils, and was a delegate to innumerable 
city, county and State conventions. In 1900 he was a candidate on 
the Democratic ticket for presidential elector. He is a past 
grand knight of Charter Oak Council, Knights of Columbus; past 
exalted ruler of Hartford Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order 
of Elks, and past grand trustee of the National Order. He holds 
membership in several other organizations, fraternal, social and 
religious. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, attending 
the services of St. Joseph's Cathedral, this being the faith of 
his forefathers. 

Mr. Coogan married, December 28, 1898, Susan O. Nolan, born in 
Albany, New York, daughter of Murtha T. Nolan, an old resident of 
that city.  Children, born in Hartford, Connecticut: John William, 
born October 23, 1899, and Murtha T., born February 28, 1902.