Workers

During the case of the Hatters in 1908, many of the unions were sued by their employers. There were 240 defendents on the list that were in the case. This was caused by the union interfering with the Sherman AntiTrust Act of 1890. The union won their appeal in 1909, but then lost in a retrial of 1912. In the case of Loewe VS. Lawlor, each member of the union must pay approximately $975.00 each to the damages they had caused, however, by the end of the case, the court was able to only gain $216,000.00 by 1917. Soon after, the Clayton Act of 1914 was passed to help unions like this one, be protected against their employers. This case did not only affect the Danbury Hatters, but those within the surrounding cities as well; they were all connected by the same company. Below were random selected employees that were affected by the case and a little insight of their lives.

This here is the obituarary of Nicholas Allen. He came to America at age of 20 years from Ireland in 1880. Allen eventually bought his own home at 47 Washington Avenue in Danbury; where pieces of his home was taken due to the Hatters Case of 1908. With this, he had an big family of five, three kids, wife, and himself. Within the Danbury Hatters Project Papers, most of them indicated that 60 feet and 250 feet in depth was seized by the court and given to Lawlor. Throughout his time in Danbury, Allen had worked for C. Frank Lee Company, whom were associated with the case.

There is very little to say of Patrick McCarthy. He resided on 14 Seeley Street where 82 feet wide and 160 feet deep was seized during the case. He had worked for the F.D. Tweedy Company Hat Factory. There were no other indications of his life.

Another hatter whom was within the union was James Costello. He had immigrated from Ireland in 1872 and had worked as a hat blocker for Loewe Hat Factory, most of his life. During his lifetime, he bought a home on 41 Deer Hill Avenue with his family of ten and then a second home on 28 South Street. However, there were no indications of how much of his land was seized.

This hatter is a mystery, his name is Patrick Elligott Sr. At the age of 15 years, he became a sailor. He lived on 55 Sheridan Street after coming from Ireland in 1883. Elligott was employed by many factories as a hat-finisher, some were the Turner Machine Company and then F.D. Tweedy Hat Company was his last employer. Though, there are no indications of what happened to his property upon his death.

This here is another obiturary of another hatter named, Mark Sullivan. In 1889, he and his family had immigrated from Ireland, he was 23 years of age; which included four other brothers. Sullivan was employed by the Lee Stiff Hat Company. He had owned a home on 32 Washington Avenue in Danbury as well as most of the others. During the Hatters case of 1908, part of his home was also siezed; 60 feet wide & 98 feet deep of it. Mark Sullivan was the best known hatter, as indicated in his obiturary. He was excellent at what he does, his brothers were not as remembered as he was. One of his brothers, Michael, immigrated to America in 1884. He lived at 14 Harmony Street, where 74 feet and 156 feet depth was seized. Unfortunately, he left no will and there were no traces of what happened to his assets.

Another brother, was William, whom was a hat-finisher. He resided at 55 Washington Avenue. There were no papers of the fourth brother., James J. Sullivan.

This man was known as the "Oldest and hardworking." His name is Theophilas Abienste. Abienste had immigrated from Switzerland at the age of 9years. Also, he had volunteered for President Lincoln's call for Civil War and had served 90 days. Soon after, he then had joined for the 55th New York Infantry and Union Army; he became a musican for remainder of enlistment. Abienste had a family of six. In 1903, his land was placed in the case, located on 13 Madison Street. Loewe VS. Lawlor case took 60 feet wide and 150 feet deep of it. He was employed by the Mallory Hat Factory and was listed as employee directory of 1887-1888 by Hatters.