History of Canton, (Hartford County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

Linus Pierpont Brockett, author, was born at Canton, Conn., Oct. 16, 1820. He studied at Brown university, and then entered Yale medical college, where he was graduated as M.D. in 1843. In 1844 and 1845 he was professor of physiology and anatomy at Georgetown college, Ky. Compelled by failing health to give up the practice of medicine, he devoted himself to literature, and engaged in the publishing business in Hartford, Conn., from 1847 to 1858. In 1854 he was appointed a commissioner to investigate idiocy in Connecticut, and finished his report in 1856. He wrote a study in church history, entitled, "The Bogomile," and epitomized the history of the Bassein Karen mission with enthusiastic appreciation of the spirit of sacrifice manifested in that field. He was editor at different periods of the Brooklyn Monthly, and the Brooklyn Advance, and contributed largely to cyclop?dias and periodicals. He published over forty works on historical, religious and other subjects, among which are: "Geographical History of New York" (1847); "Pioneer Preacher" (1856); "History of Education" (1859); "Eighty Years' Progress of the United States" (1861); "Life of Lincoln" (1865); "History of the Civil War" (1866); "Woman's Work in the Civil War" (1867); "Men of Our Day," "Our Great Captains" (1868); "Woman: Her Rights, Wrongs, Privileges, and Responsibilities" (1869); "The Year of Battles" (1871); "Epidemic and Contagious Diseases" (1873); "Una and her Paupers" (1874); "Our Country's Wealth and Influence" (1881); "Our Western Empire" (1881-'82); "Descriptive America" (1884-'85); and "The Great Metropolis" (1888). Amherst college conferred on him the honorary degree of A.M. in 1857. He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., Jan. 13, 1893.

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

William Edgar Simonds, lawyer, was born at Canton, Conn., Nov. 25, 1841; son of John and Hyphena Simonds. He was graduated from the Connecticut State Normal school, New Britain, 1860; taught school, 1860?62; and Aug. 18, 1869, enlisted as a private in the 25th Connecticut volunteers, in which regiment he was advanced to the grade of sergeant major, and at the battle of Irish Bend, La., April 14, 1863, was promoted 2d lieutenant and received a congressional medal for gallantry. He was discharged with his regiment on Aug. 26, 1863; was graduated from Yale, LL.B., 1866, and practised patent law at Hartford. Elected to the lower house of Connecticut legislature, he served as a member and house chairman of the joint standing committee on railroads, 1883, and in 1885 as speaker of the house. He was a Republican representative from the first Connecticut district in the 51st congress, 1889?91, being defeated for re-election by a small majority. While in congress he secured the passage through the house after a vigorous fight of the international copyright bill, for which service the French government made him a chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1898. He was U.S. commissioner of patents, 1891?93, being at the same time professor of the law of patents at Columbian University, Washington, D.C. He was lecturer on patent law at Yale, 1884?93, and received from Yale the honorary degree of M.A. in 1890. He is the author of: Design Patents (1874); Digest of Patent Causes (1888); Digest of Patent Office Decisions (1880); A Summary of Patent Law; and Whither: A Study of Immortality (1900). He died in Hartford, Conn., March 14, 1903.

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

Hector Humphreys, educator, was born in Canton, Conn., June 8, 1797; son of Col. George and Rachel (Humphreys) Humphreys. His father was born, Nov. 11, 1756, at West Simsbury, Conn., was one of the patriot soldiers at Concord, Mass., 1775, was married, Aug. 7, 1777, to Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Abraham and Jerusha (Pinney) Pettibone, of New Hartford. She died in 1784, and he was married secondly to Rachel, daughter of Oliver and Sarah (Garrett) Humphreys, and a descendant of Michael Humphreys(1643-1690), the emigrant and captain in the colonial service. Hector Humphreys was graduated at Yale in 1818, with first honors. He was a teacher in Hopbins academy, New Haven, 1818-20, during which time he pursued a course in law. He was a lawyer in New Haven, 1820-21; and judge-advocate on the staff of Governor Wolcott, 1821-22. He studied theology, 1822-24; and was ordained a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church in 1824, and a priest in 1825. He was a tutor in Washington (Trinity) college, Hartford, Conn., 1824-26; professor of ancient languages there, 1826-30; and librarian, 1828-29. While at Washington college he was rector of St. Luke's church, Glastonbury, Conn. In 1831 he was elected president of St. John's college, Annapolis, Md. In 1840 he declined the nomination for bishop of the diocese and continued at the head of the college during the remainder of his life. He filled the chair of mental and moral philosophy and history, 1855-57, and of moral science, 1831-57. He received the degree of A.M. from Yale in 1825, and that of S.T.D., from Trinity in 1833. He died at St. John's college, Annapolis, Md., Jan. 25, 1857.

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