History of Southbury, (New Haven County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

Horace Francis Clark, railroad president, was born in Southbury, Conn., Nov. 29, 1815; son of Daniel A. Clark. He was graduated at Williams college in 1833, was admitted to the New York bar in 1837, and practised in that city for twenty years. He was elected as a Democrat a representative in the 35th congress, and as an Independent to the 36th congress. In 1857 he was made a director of the New York & Harlem railroad, and later became president of the Union Pacific, the Michigan Southern, the Lake Shore and the Northern Indiana railroads; and director of the New York Central & Hudson River, the Shore Line, the Chicago & Northwestern, and the New Haven, Hartford and Springfield railroads. He was active manager of the Western Union telegraph company, and president of the Union Trust company of New York. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Williams in 1868. He died in New York city, June 19, 1873.

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

Royal Ralph Hinman, historian, was born in Southbury, Conn., June 5, 1785; son of Gen. Ephraim and Sylvania (French) Hinman, and grandson of Deacon David Hinman and of William French. He prepared for college under the instruction of Azel Backus, D.D., and was graduated from Yale in 1804. He taught an academy in Virginia, 1804-05, and then returned to Connecticut and studied law at New Milford and Litchfield. He was admitted to the bar in 1807, and practised law at Rexbury and Southington, Conn. He was married, Sept. 14, 1814, to Lydia, youngest daughter of Maj.-Gen. John Ashley, a descendant of Gov. John Winthrop. He was for ten years postmaster of Rexbury, and was judge and clerk of probate at Soutbhington. In 1819 he was appointed brigade major and inspector of the 6th infantry of Connecticut. He was a member of the general assembly four sessions, and was once nominated for representative in congress. On being elected secretary of state of Connecticut, he removed to Hartford, and held the office, 1835-42. In 1835-36 he was appointed by the legislature chairman of two committees, the first to revise the public statutes of the state, and the second to prepare and publish the acts of incorporation or private laws of Connecticut. He was commissioner of deeds for Maine and other states, 1837, and notary public for Connecticut, 1842. In 1844 he was appointed by President Tyler collector of customs for the port of New Haven, and superintendent of lightlhouses in the district, and held the office until the following March. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention at Baltimore in 1844. He was an original member of the Connecticut Historical society and a member of various other historical societies; a member of the Linonian Society of Yale; and was elected an honorary member of the Parthenon Society of Trinity college in 1843. He received the degree of A.M. from Yale in 1811. He made a special study of the early history of Connecticut, and published: Official Letters between the Kings and Queens of England and the Early Governors of Connecticut in 1635-79 (1836); Historical Recollections of Connecticut in the American Revolution (1842); Catalogue of the First Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut (1852-58); A Family Record of the Descendants of Sergeant Edward Hinman (1856). He died in New York city, Oct. 15, 1868.

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