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

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Biographies:

James Brewster, manufacturer, was born in Preston, Conn., Aug. 6, 1788. He was a direct descendant of William Brewster, the pilgrim. He acquired an ordinary education, learned the trade of carriage building, and started in business for himself in New Haven, Conn., in 1810, ultimately amassed wealth and attained celebrity as the builder of "Brewster" wagons, and of fine carriages. At the breaking out of the war of 1812 he enlisted and was appointed Heutenant, but soon after obtained a discharge from the army, and returned to his commercial operations. In 1833 the Hartford and New Haven railroad was projected, and Mr. Brewster was one of the eight men to procure a charter, and was chosen president of the corporation. The necessary funds were generously advanced by him, as a disastrous fire in New York in 1835 prevented the collection of moneys which had been subscribed in that city. After seeing the project fairly started, he resigned the presidency. He was in the habit of addressing his employees in the evenings on subjects of a practical and reformatory nature; he built and fitted up a fine hall for their use, and also spent many thousand dollars each year in maintaining courses of scientific lectures by Professors Silli-man, Olmsted and Shepard of Yale college, for their benefit. He also contributed largely to the orphan asylum erected in New Haven in 1855, was a generous subscriber to the home for the friendless, and was instrumental in erecting many public buildings and in making much-needed improvements in the city. See "Address upon the Life and Character of the Late James Brewster," by James T. Babcock (1866). He died Nov. 23, 1866.

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

Willliam Howard Doane, philanthropist, was born in Preston, Conn., Feb. 3, 1832; son of Joseph Howes and Frances (Treat) Doane; grandson of Capt. John and Eunice (Howes) Doane, and a descendant of Deacon John Doane of Plymouth and Eastham, Mass. He was educated at Woodstock academy and engaged as a clerk in a cotton mill for three years, and then with J. A. Fay & Co., manufacturers of woodworking machinery. In 1856 he took charge of the Chicago business of the firm. In 1861 he became the leading member of the firm and general manager of the business from its offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1866, on the incorporation of the enterprise as J. A. Fay & Co., Mr. Boane was elected its president and general manager. He retired from business in 1892. In 1894 he donated to Denison university Doane hall, a substantial academy building. He was made a fellow of the American society of mechanical engineers; of the American society of mining engineers; of the American geographical society; of the American association for the advancement of science, and of the American arch?ological society; and a chevalier in the Legion of Honor of France. He was married Nov. 2, 1857, to Francis, daughter of James Stanton and Frances (Witter) Treat. He was an accomplished musician and received the degree of Mus.D. from Denison university in 1875. He composed and published: Sabbath School Gems (1862); Little Sunbeams (1864); and Silver Spray (1867), of which last, 300,000 copies were sold. With the Rev. Robert Lowry he edited: Pure Gold, Royal Diadem, Temple Anthems, Tidal Wave, Brightest and Best, Welcome Tidings, Glad Hosannas, Fountain of Song, Good as Gold, Glad Refrain, Joyful Lays, Bright Array and other popular song books. Mr. Doane alone edited; Songs of Devotion and the Baptist Hymn and Tune Book; Sunnyside Songs, and Songs of the Kingdom (1896); and numerous popular cantatas for the use of Sunday schools. In association with John Church he donated the "Silver Spray Organ" to the Y.M.C.A. hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, paying for it out of the revenue for the sale of the Silver Spray Singing Book.

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