History of New London, (New London County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

Jonathan Newton Harris, philanthropist, was born in Salem, Conn., Nov. 18, 1815. He was a merchant in New London, Conn., 1838-68, and in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1848-96; a member of both branches of the state legislature, and mayor of New London, 1856 and l862. He was a director of the A.B.C.F.M. and of the International Y. M. C. A.; frounded the Harris school of science, Kioto, Japan, at a cost of $100,000; gave the Moody schools, Northfield, Mass., $50,000 each, besides providing for them and for various other institutions in his will. He died at New London, Conn., Oct. 8, 1896.

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

Stephen Hempstead, governor of Iowa, was born in New London, Conn., Oct. 1, 1812; eighth son of Joseph and Celinda (Hutchinson) Hempstead; grandson of Stephen and Mary (Lewis) Hempstead; and a nephew of the Hon. Edward Hempstead (1780-1817). Joseph Hempstead emigrated with his family to St. Louis, Mo., in 1828, and settled on a farm near Belle-fontaine, Mo., and about five miles from the city of St. Louis, given him by his brother, Edward Hempstead. In 1830 young Stephen with his brother Samuel went to Galena, Ill., where they soon found congenial employment as clerks in general stores. On the outbreak of the Black Hawk war Stephen joined an artillery company and at the close of the war, entered Illinois college, Jacksonville, where his brother Samuel was a student. The college had just been organized and had no regular curriculem established and he left in 1833, the first class not graduating until 1835. He studied law for one year in St. Louis, and two years under his uncle, Charles S. Hempstead, at Galena. He settled in Dubuque in 1836, the first attorney to enter upon the practice of law in that place. He was married, June 15, 1837, to Lavinia Moore Lackland. Upon the organization of the territorial government of Iowa in 1838 Hempstead, with Gen. Warner Lewis, was elected to represent the northern portion of the territory in the legislative council, at Burlington, and he was made chairman of the judiciary committee. At the second session and again in 1845 he was president of the council. In 1844 he was elected a delegate to the first convention met to frame the state constitution and was chairman of the committee on incorporation. In 1845 he was appointed one of three commissioners to revise the laws which became "The Code of Iowa of 1851." He was nominated by the Democratic party for governor of Iowa, and was inaugurated in January, 1851, serving, 1851-54. In 1855 he was elected county judge of Dubuque county and held the office by successive re-elections till it was abolished by law in 1869. He was auditor of Dubuque county from 1869 till 1873 when failing health compelled him to resign. His last office was that of justice of the peace which he held until his death. He died in Dubuque, Iowa, Feb. 16, 1883.

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

Walter Learned, author, was born in New London, Conn., June 22, 1847; son of Joshua and Jane E. Learned. He received a common-school education, and became a banker in his native city. He married Alice F. Beckwith June 1, 1871. He is the author of Between Times, a volume of poems (1889); bas translated Ten Tales and The Rivals from Copp?e (1890): and has edited Treasury of Favorite Poems (1891) and Treasury of Favorite American Poems (1897).

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

William Law Learned, jurist, was born in New London, Conn., July 24, 1821; son of Ebenezer and Lydia (Coit) Learned; grandson of Amasa and Grace (Hallam) Learned and of Joshua and Ann B. (Hallam) Coit, and a descendant of William Learned, who emigrated from England and settled in Charlestown, Mass., about 1630, and of John Colt, who came from Glamorganshire, Wales, and settled in Salem, Mass., before 1638. He was prepared for college at Union school, in New London, and was graduated from Yale, A.B., in 1841. He was admitted to the bar in 1844, and practised at Albany, N.Y. He was appointed a justice of the supreme court of New York by Governor Hoffman in 1870, to fill the vacancy caused by the elevation of Rufus W. Peckham to the court of appeals, and the same year he was elected by the Democratic party to the office for a term of fourteen years, being the first judge elected for so long a term. He was connected with the Albany Law school as professor and lecturer and as president of the institution. He was appointed presiding justice of the third division by Governor Tilden in 1875, in place of Theodore Miller, elevated to the court of appeals. In 1884 he was re-elected a justice of the supreme court, and he was continued as presiding justice for the third division by Governor Cleveland. He was retired by reason of age, Dec. 3l, 1891, and returned to the practice of law in Albany. He was twice married: first, May 29, 1855, to Phebe Rowland, danghter of Alexander Marvin, of Albany, who died in 1864; and secondly, Jan. 15, 1868, to Katherine, daughter of Clinton De Witt. He was president and a trustee of the Albany Female academy for many years; a school commissioner of Albany and president of the board from 1893, and held many other important local positions. He received from Yale the degree of A.M., in 1847, and that of LL.D. in 1878. He edited and published: Madame Knight's Journal (1866); Earle's Microcosmography (1867), and compiled the Learned Genealogy (1882, 2d ed., 1898).

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