History of Stamford, (Fairfield County) Connecticut United States of America

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Local History Notes:

STAMFORD, a flourishing post-borough of Fairfield co., Connecticut, near the mouth of Mill river, and on the New York and New Haven railroad, 40 miles S. W. from New Haven, and 36 miles N. E. from New York. A canal 180 rods in length, 30 feet in breadth, and 7 feet deep, has been constructed, extending to the bay, which sets up from Long Island sound, between Greenwich and Shiphan's Points, affording a fine harbor for vessels drawing 8 feet of water. The borough has entirely changed in appearance during the last 10 years. It contains several fine churches, and many of the dwellings are very elegant. During the summer months it is much resorted to as a watering-place. Stamford has some trade with the ports along the coast; and its manufactures, particularly those of iron, are extensive. A bank is established here, and there is also an institution for savings, with $19,276 on deposite. The Stamford Advocate is published weekly. Population of the township in 1840, 3516; in 1850, 5000.

Biographies:

Harry Thurston Peck, editor and author, was born in Stamford, Conn., Nov. 24, 1856; son of Harry and Elizabeth (Thurston) Peck; grandson of Turney and Rebecca (Burr) Peck, and of John Gates and Harriet (Lee) Thurston, and a descendant from Daniel Thurston of Gloucestershire, England, and later of Newbury, Mass., who died in 1693. He attended a private school in Greenwich, Conn., and was graduated from Columbia college, A.B., 1881, A.M., 1882, L.H.D., 1884. He was a university fellow of Columbia, 1881-83; tutor in Latin, 1882-85, and studied at the University of Berlin in 1888. He was married, April 26, 1882, to Nellie MacKay, daughter of Charles and Mary E. (MacKay) Dawbarn. He was instructor in Latin and Semitic languages at Columbia, 1886-88; acting professor of Latin, 1886-88, and became professor of Latin in 1888. The degree of Ph.D. was conferred on him by Cumberland university in 1883. He was secretary of the University Council of Columbia in 1892, and of the Faculty of Arts from 1894. He was editor of the Bookman from 1895; literary editor of the New York Commercial Advertiser, 1897-1901; member of the general editorial staff of the same journal from 1902; editor of "Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities" (1896); "The International Cyclop?dia" (15 vols., 1890-1902); "The New International Encyclop?dia" from 1902; the "Student's Series of Latin Classics" (1892-1902); "American Atlas of the World" (1802); "Library of the World's Literature" (1896), and "Masterpieces of Literature" (1899). He translated "Trimalchio's Dinner" (1898), and is the author of: The Personal Equation (1897); The Semitic Theory of Creation (1886); Latin Pronunciation (1890); The Adventures of Mabel (1896): What is Good English? (1899); Greystone and Porpyhry (1900.)

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Todd Quintard, second bishop of Tennessee and 75th in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Stamford, Conn., Dec. 22, 1824; son of Isaac Quintard. He attended Trinity parish school, New York city; studied medicine under James R. Wood and Valentine Mott, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of the City of New York, M.D., in 1847. He established himself in practice at Athens, Ga., and in 1851 was elected professor of physiology and pathological anatomy in the medical college, Memphis, Tenn., and with Dr. Ayres P. Merrill edited the Memphis Medical Recorder. Determining to enter the church, he prepared under Bishop James Hervey Otey, and was admitted to the diaconate in 1855, and advanced to the priesthood in 1856. He was assistant at Calvary, Memphis, 1857?58; rector of the Church of the Advent, Nashville, 1858?61, and in 1861 was chosen chaplain of the 1st Tennessee regiment, serving both as chaplain and surgeon. Upon the death of Bishop Otey, April 23, 1863, he returned to his duties as rector of the Church of the Advent. He was elected bishop of the diocese of Tennessee, and was consecrated at St. Luke's church, Philadelphia, Oct. 11, 1865, by Bishops Hopkins, Burgess, and Atkinson, assisted by Bishops Odenheimer, Bedell, Stevens, Coxe, and Fulford of Montreal, Canada. It was through his untiring efforts, especially in England at the time of the Lambeth conference of 1867, that funds were secured to re-establish the University of the South Sewanee, Tenn. He was first president (vice-chancellor) of the University, 1867?72, and chairman of the board of trustees and of the executive committees, 1867?98. He re-organized the institution for girls founded by Bishop Otey at Columbia, Tenn., besides interesting himself in general educational advancement throughout the state. The Rev. Thomas Frank Gailor was elected his coadjutor, April 20, 1893. He received the degree of D.D. from Columbia in 1866 and from the University of the South in 1878 and that of LL.D. from Cambridge, England, in 1867. He died in Meridianville, Ala., Feb. 15, 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Davenport, clergyman, was born in Stamford, Conn., in 1716; son of the Rev. John and Martha (Gould) Selleck Davenport; grandson of Judge John and Abigail (Pierson) Davenport, and great-grandson of the Rev. John Davenport, the Puritan. He was graduated at Yale in 1732, studied theology in New Haven, and was ordained to the ministry at Southold, N.Y., Oct. 26, 1738. He took an active part in the religious revival of that period, preaching with great effect on Long Island, and in New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The assembly of Connecticut disapproved of his methods and expelled him from the colony. He then went to Boston where he was arrested, imprisoned, tried and declared "non compos mentis and therefore not guilty." A council of ministers dissolved his relations with the South-old congregation in 1742 and in 1743 his partisans induced him to organize a church at New London, Conn., and he continued his erratic actions against the use of jewelry, wigs, fine clothes, and certain books which he gathered together and burned. In July, 1744, after his recovery from a severe illness, he published in the Boston Gazette a retraction of his errors. The College of New Jersey made him an honorary A.M. in 1749. In September, 1746, he became a member of the New Brunswick (N.J.) presbytery and was transferred to the New York presbytery in 1748. In 1754 he was moderator of the New York synod. He subsequently became pastor at Hopewell, N.J.. where he died Nov. 10, 1757.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Theodore Low De vinne, printer, was born in Stamford, Conn., Dec. 25, 1828; son of the Rev. Daniel and Joanna Augusta (Low) De Vinne. He acquired a common school education and learned the printer's trade in the office of the Gazette, Newburgh, N.Y., 1844-48. In 1849 he entered the establishment of Francis Hart of New York city, and ten years later became junior member of the firm of Francis Hart & Co. He established a reputation as a competent printer, and on the death of Mr. Hart in 1877 became manager of the business. In 1883 the firm name was changed to Theodore L. De Vinne & Co. He printed St. Nicholas from its beginning in 1873, and the Century from 1874. He was married in 1850 to Grace, daughter of Joseph Brockbank, of Willimantic, Conn. He was one of the founders and first secretary of the New York typothet?, and was president of the United typothet? of America, 1887-88. He is the author of Printers' Price List (1871) ; Invention of Printing (1876); Historic Types (1886), and magazine articles.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor