John Thomas Sliney is one of the forceful business men of Branford, prominently known in connection with contract work. His ability, fair dealing and his enterprise have been the salient features in winning for him the liberal patronage that is now accorded him.

     His parents, David and Elizabeth (Dixon) Sliney, were natives of Ireland and crossed the Atlantic to the new world about 1850, establishing their home in Branford, where the father turned his attention to the occupation of farming. After a time he entered the employ of the Malleable Iron Company, and eventually again resumed agricultural pursuits, with which he was connected until his death on the 11th of November, 1897, when he was seventy-one years of age. During the period of the Civil war he served as a member of the Union army, enlisting in Company G, Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Ely. With his command he wentto the front and while participating in the hotly contested engagement at Gettysburg was taken prisoner. He was then sent to the south and for a time was incarcerated in southern prisons but at length was honorably discharged from the hospital at New Haven, whither he had had to go because of his impaired health, caused by the hardships of southern prison life.

     His son, John Thomas Sliney, was reared in Branford and acquired a public school education there. He was seventeen years of age when he became connected with the milk trade, to which he devoted the next eleven years of
his life. He embarked in his present business in 1892 and has been identified therewith for a quarter of a century. After a year he entered into partnership with M. P. Rice, an association that continued for two years, and since then he has conducted his business independently. He is today one of the prominent contractors on stone work, track work, teaming and trucking in Branford, where he also has extensive livery stables. He always lives up to the terms of his contracts in sprit and in letter and his integrity and reliability in business matters, combined with his in excellent workmanship, have secured to him the liberal patronage which he now enjoys.

     On the 25th of January, 1893, Mr. Sliney was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Agnes Buckley, a daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Murphy) Buckley. Mrs. Sliney passed away, April 13, 1906, leaving six children: Mary,
Elizabeth, John, Lawrence, Leo and Edward. The family are communicants of the Catholic church in Branford and Mr. Sliney gives his political support to the democratic party. For two terms he filled the office of first selectman of his town and served in all for five terms as a member of the board of selectmen; for two years was a member of the board of education, and during 1902 and 1903, served as a member of the state legislature. He has, however, not been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and efforts upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed, bringing to him a substantial measure of success.