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From Shirley Hyde
Freeman:
"Howard Josiah
Usher was the sixth child of Robert Cleveland Usher, Sr. and Antoinette
Cora Pierce of Plainville, CT. He was born September 23, 1881.
He married Ruby L. Cooke June 29, 1907 in Plainville, CT. She was
the daughter of John Cooke, owner of John Cooke Company an insurance
agency. This company was later passed on to Howard Usher, Sr., their
son.
Howard Josiah Usher was about six feet tall, medium
build with dark hair. He had the best sense of humor in the family.
He had a wonderful tenor singing voice and sang in a quartet with his
brothers.
Howard owned a garage for many years on East Main
Street in Plainville and Ruby did the bookkeeping for them. They
sold gas and repaired cars. Howard and Ruby lived at 9 Hough street
in Plainville."
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New Britain Herald
Saturday, 29 June 1907
USHER-COOKE
June Wedding on Hough Street this afternoon Unites two of Plainville's
most respected families.
A June wedding of unusual interest and rare beauty
occurred at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John
W. Cooke on Hough street when their daughter, Miss Ruby Louise Cooke, was
united in marriage to Howard J. Usher, son of Town Clerk and Mrs. Robert
C. Usher. The ceremony was performed in the parlor, beautifully
decorated for the occasion with flowers and foliage, green and white being
the predominating colors, by the Rev. Frederick L. Grant of the
Congregational Church of which both bride and groom are members.
The bride was attired in a creation of white silk
trimmed with princess lace. The couple were attended by Miss Bertha
Cooke, a sister of the bride, Miss Ruth Goodrich, Miss Katrina Wessel of
New Britain and James, Frank and Robert Usher, brothers of the groom.
The bridesmaids were also gowned in white. The tuneful strains of
the wedding march were rendered by Miss Martha Williams. At the
ceremony only the immediate relatives of the contracting parties were
present.
Following the marriage a reception was held from 4 to 6
o'clock to which a large number of friends were invited. The guests
included people from Springfield and South Hadley, Mass., Philadelphia,
New York, Hartford, New Britain and Meriden. The dining room was
artistically decorated for the wedding feast, the color scheme being
yellow and white.
The gifts received by the bride and groom were numerous
and beautiful. They included cut glass, silverware, china, Oriental
rugs and paintings.
The young couple are members of two of Plainville's
most prominent families. The bride is an accomplished and highly
thought-of young lady and has a host of friends. She is a graduate
of the New Britain High school. The groom is a popular and able young man.
He occupies a position of trust and responsibility in the Stanley Works at
New Britain.
Mr. and Mrs. Usher will leave this evening for a two
weeks' honeymoon trip after which they will return to Plainville, where
they will make their home on Hough street.
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Newspaper Article
June 4, 1926
TAKES OVER COOK
GARAGE
Howard J. Usher of Hough Street has resigned his
position at the Stanley Works in New Britain and will take over the Cook
garage on East Main Street from Denis Hurlehey of Bristol, who has
operated it for the past five years. Mr. Usher has been with the New
Britain firm for 24 years; his resignation will take effect on July 1.
In his new venture he will be associated with Wooster Williams of Lebanon,
N. H., formerly of Plainville.
Mr. Hurlehey will continue to operate the filling
station across the street from the Cook garage and is having plans drawn
for the erection of a large new garage on that location.
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Newspaper Article
Date unknown (possibly 1924):
Howard Usher, Peter Duffy and William Calmbach, three members of
Plainville Hose Co. No. 1, were injured yesterday afternoon shortly after
4 o'clock when an automobile being driven by Mr. Usher, left the road and
struck a tree while answering an alarm sent in for the department.
The fire was later found to be in Southington. Calmbach was injured the
worst, suffering a bad gash under his eye which required several stitches
by Dr. J. N. Bull. Two others received minor cuts and bad bruises,
none of which is considered serious.
The three men were proceeding in a runabout to the
fire. When approaching the small culvert a short distance before
reaching Hart's Corners, Usher, who was behind the wheel, started to pass
another car in front of him. He swerved too much to the left and the
wheels went off the permanent pavement. Before he could turn the
wheels onto the road again, the automobile struck a fence and then a tree.
Eyewitnesses of the affair stated that the car turned turtle spilling the
occupants out in all directions. A son of Mr. Usher was riding on
the running board and he was thrown completely over the automobile and
rolled to the side of the road. He escaped without any injury.
The automobile was completely wrecked.
Duffy landed on his head and then crashed onto his hip
but was only bruised and no bones were broken. Usher was also thrown
heavily to the ground but he escaped serious injury.
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Newspaper Article
Date and Newspaper Unknown
"Howard J. Usher of 9 Hough Street, a lifelong resident of
Plainville, died at his home this morning after a long illness. Mr.
Usher, 75, served as town treasurer from 1932 to 1942. A member of
Plainville Fire Department for more than 35 years, he resigned last year
as chairman of the Fire Commission.
Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday at the
Bailey Funeral Home with the Rev. Theodore T. Dixon of the Congregational
Church officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9
P.M. Friday. It is requested that flowers be omitted with donations
made instead to the Cancer Society.
Mr. Usher was born here on September 23, 1881. He
was employed at Stanley Works in New Britain for 24 years and then
operated Usher's Garage for 25 years. He retired in 1951. He
was a member of the Congregational Church and Frederick Lodge, AF &
AM. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ruby (Cooke) Usher; a daughter,
Mrs. Abbie Aurell of Rogers Road, Forestville; a son Howard C. Usher of 74
Trumbull Avenue; two brothers, James E. Usher of 15 Farmington Avenue and
Frank P. Usher of 25 Farmington Avenue; two sisters, Mrs. John Trumbull,
wife of former Governor Trumbull, of 39 Farmington Avenue, and Mrs.
Charles Clark of 11 Farmington Avenue. Also three grandchildren and
several nieces and nephews.
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