cyclopedia of Georgia
Connelly, Brazilla A., was known and honored as one of the progressive business men and sterling citizens of the city of Rome, Ga., where he died Oct. 1,1897, having been the owner of the well equipped tannery which is now operated by his widow. He was born near Hunter, Greene county, N.Y., in the Catskill mountain district, Feb. 14, 849, a son of William A. and Mary E. (Ladew) Connelly. The former was born near Hunter, July 14, 1820, his grandfather having been a native of Ireland, who settled in Greene at an early day, became a prosperous farmer, and also owned an interest in a chair factory at Hunter. Mary E. (Ladew) Connelly, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1829. Brazilla A. Connelly, secured his educational training in the schools of Kingston, N.Y., and when eighteen years of age he went to Emmaville, Pa., where he learned the tanning trade in the establishment of the firm of J. B. Hoyt & Co., of which his uncle, H. S. Ladew was a member. He became familiar with all branches of the business and was finally made superintendent of the tannery at Emmaville. In October, 1876 he went to Chattanooga, Tenn., as superintended of the tannery conducted by the firm of Fairweather & Ladew, successors to J. B Hoyt & Co., Mr. Hoyt having retired from the business. He continues superintendent of the Chattanooga tannery until its operations involved the handling of 500 hides a day, the tannery at the time being the largest in the Union. In 1881 Mr. Connelly decided to engage in business for himself. he accordingly located in Rome, where he erected and equipped a small tannery, the original capacity of the same being 20 hides a day. He developed a prosperous enterprise, bringing to bear his intimate knowledge of all details of the business, and at the time of his death the tannery was putting out 60 Hides a day, in the form of select belting leather. He also owned and operated a tannery at Jellico, Tenn., the same having a capacity of 100 hides a day. Since his death Mrs. Connelly has continued the business in Rome, and has shown marked acumen in the management of the same, the output of the tannery now averaging 120 hides a day. The enterprise is conducted on a strictly cash basis, and from $25,000 to $30,00 are expended each year in the purchase of bark alone, this large amount being disseminated among the farmers in this locality, so that the business exercises functions of farmers in this locality, so that the business exercises functions of marked value to the community, in both a direct and secondary way. Mr. Connelly gave himself earnestly an faithfully to the up building of this enterprise, and rose to a place of prominence as a reliable, upright and progressive business man, gaining the unqualified esteem and confidence of the community in which he made his home until his death. He was a Republican in his political proclivities; was identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and accorded a liberal support too the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his widow has long been a devoted member. On Dec. 20, 1870, Mr. Connelly was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Ensley, daughter of Abram and Mary (Hanks) Ensley, of Emmaville, Pa., where she was reared and educated. Her mother was a relative of the mother of President Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Connelly is survived by one son John Augustus, who is an executive in the office of the tannery now conducted by his mother.