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

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Local History Notes:

WATERBURY, a beautiful and flourishing city of New Haven county, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck railroad, and on the route of the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill railroad, which will be completed to this place by July, 1854, about 28 miles S. W. from Hartford, 21 miles N. W. by N. from New Haven, 82 miles N. E. from New York. It is delightfully situated in the Naugatuck Valley, the site extending eastward from the stream, up a graceful slope occupied with numerous tasteful residences. The dwellings generally are remarkable for their neatness, and are usually adorned with shade-trees, flower-gardens, and shrubbery. In the centre is a beautiful public square. There are now 7 churches in the city, several of which are elegant structures. St. John's, (Episcopal,) situated on the principal street, near the upper part of Centre square, is one of the most splendid church edifices in New England. It is built of granite, in the Norman style, and was dedicated in 1848. A new Methodist Episcopal church has been erected the present season. It has two towers, and makes a very fine appearance. The Second Congregational Society are at the present time (Nov., 1853) erecting a splendid brick edifice. Among the other buildings deserving of notice, may be mentioned the Scovill House, a hotel of the first class, fronting Centre square; Hotchkiss block, an elegant brick row, in which are seven fine stores, and several of the factory buildings. There are 2 banks, the Waterbury bank, with a capital of over half a million, and the City bank, recently established, also a savings' institution, and 2 building associations. Great attention has of late been paid to the subject of education; and by a vote of the inhabitants, the public schools are now free. A commodious brick building has been erected for a high-school, with arrangements to accommodate over 200 pupils. The whole number of pupils in attendance upon the various schools of the city, is about 1100. A flourishing institution, called the Young Men's Institute, now numbers 400 members, and is provided with regular courses of lectures, and a library of 600 volumes. There are also several benevolent and other societies in the place. Two newspapers are published, one of which, The American, is of 9 years standing.

Biographies:

Frederick Gorham Clark, clergyman, was born in Waterbury, Conn., Dec. 13, 1819; son of the Rev. Daniel A. and Eliza (Barker) Clark. His father was one of the founders of Amherst college and a prominent Congregational clergyman. The son was graduated at the University of the city of New York in 1842 and from the Union theological seminary in 1845. He was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church the same year and was stationed at Greenwich, Conn., 1845-46; pastor at Astoria, N.Y., 1846-52; New York city, 1852-67; Greenwich, Conn., 1867-71; Brooklyn, N.Y., 1874-75; and Troy, N.Y., 1877-86. The University of the city of New York conferred on him the degree of D.D. in 1864. He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 18, 1886.

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

Samuel Hopkins, theologian, was born in Waterbury, Conn., Sept. 17, 1721; son of Timothy and Mary (Judd) Hopkins; grandson of John Hopkins; great grandson of Stephen and Dorcas (Bronson) Hopkins, and great2 grandson of John Hopkins, who settled at Cambridge in 1634 and removed to Hartford, Conn., in 1636. He was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1741; A.M., 1744. He studied theology under Jonathan Edwards, and was pastor at Housatonic, Mass., 1743-69; at Newport, R.I., 1770-76; and during the occupation of Newport by the British he preached at Newburyport, Mass., and at Canterbury and Stamford, Conn. He could not rebuild his congregation in Newport after the war, and depended for his subsistence on weekly contributions and the help of friends. He was deprived of the use of his limbs by an attack of paralysis in 1799. He freed his own slaves and advocated universal emancipation and colonization in Africa. His particular theory of sin and its punishment became known as Hopkinsianism and his theological belief marked an epoch in religious thought in New England. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Brown university in 1790. He published, besides various sermons: A System of Doctrines Contained in Divine Revelation (1793); Life of President Edwards; Life of Susannah Anthony; Life of Mrs. Osborne. Dr. Stephen West published his works in 1805 and Dr. Edward A. Parks his collected writings and a memoir in 1852. See also Memoir containing complete bibliograpby by John Ferguson (1830). He died in Newport, R.I., Dec. 20, 1803.

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

Sarah Johnson Prichard, author, was born in Waterbury, Conn., Jan. 11, 1830; daughter of Elizur Edwin and Betsey Jeanette (Cooper) Prichard; granddaughter of David, Jr., and Anna (Hitcheck) Pritchard, and of Asa and Hannah (Butsford) Cooper, and a descendant in the seventh generation from Roger and Elizabeth (Prudden) Pritchard and in the eighth generation from John and Mary Cooper. She was a student at Waterbury academy; at Dwight Place seminary, New Haven, Conn., 1846-47, and was graduated from Mrs. Emma Willard's seminary, Troy, N.Y., in 1849, subsequently devoting herself to literature and historical research. She served as vice-president of the Mattatuck Historical society, and was elected a member of the American Historical society. She is the author of: Martha's Hooks and Eyes (1859); Hugh's Fire on the Mountain (1861); Nat's Shoes (1862); Kenny Carle's Uniform (1863); Joe and Jim (1865); The Old Stone Chimney (1865); Margie's Matches (1866); Faye Mar of Stone Cliff (1868); Rose Marbury(1870); Shawney and the Lighthouse (1871); Aunt Sadie's Cow (1872); History of Waterbury, 1674-1784 (1896); The Only Woman in Town (1898), and many magazine articles and stories.

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

Lemuel Hopkins, poet, was born in Waterbury, Conn., June 19, 1750; grandson of Stephen, great grandson of John, great2 grandson of Stephen and Dorcas (Bronson) and great3 grandson of John Hopkins, of Hartford (1636). He was liberally educated, practised medicine in Litchfield, Conn., and for a time served in the Continental army. He was projector and associate editor of The Anarchiad, conducted by the "Hartford wits," and contributed to The Guillotine. He wrote satirical verses on political subjects; was first an infidel and afterward a student of the Bible, writing in defence of Christian theology. He received the honorary degree of M.A. from Yale in 1784. Among his poems are: The Hypocrite's Hope, and an elegy on The Victims of a Cancer Quack. He died in Hartford, Conn., April 14, 1801.

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