History of Plainfield, (Windham County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

William Douglas, soldier, was born at Plainfield, Conn., Jan. 27, 1742; son of John and Olive (Spaulding) Douglas. In 1758 he engaged as a soldier in the French and Indian war, rising to the rank of orderly sergeant and taking part in the capture of Quebec. After the war he went to sea and later became a shipmaster, continuing successfully in the business until the Revolutionary war, when he raised and became captain of a company. In the fall of 1775 he was placed in command of the flotilla on Lake Champlain with the rank of commodore, and in 1776 raised a regiment in Connecticut and was appointed its colonel. He saw active service in the engagement of Long Island, Phillpse Manor, Croton river, White Plains and Harlem Heights. His health became completely undermined by exposure and labor and he returned to his home. He was married, July 5, 1767, to Hannah, daughter of Stephen Mansfield of New Haven, and sister of Col. Jared Mansfield, U.S.A. They had two sons, William and John. He died at Northfield, Conn., May 28, 1777.

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

James Monroe, educator and representative, was born at Plainfield, Conn., July 18, 1821. He attended Plainfield academy, and engaged for several years in teaching in the public schools of Windham county. He was an agent of the AntiSlavery society, 1841-44, and was graduated from Oberlin college, Ohio, A.B., 1846, A.M., 1850, and from the Theological seminary of Oberlin college in 1849. He was a tutor at Oberlin college, 1846-48; professor of rhetoric, and belles lettree, 1848-63, and devoted considerable time to raising money for the college. He was a representative from Lorain county in the state legislature, 1856-60; state senator 1860-63, and president pro tempore of the senate, 1862-63. In 1863 he resigned his seat in the senate and his professorship at Oberlin, to accept the U.S. consulship at Rio de Janeiro tendered him by President Lincoln, and he held the office until 1870, having also served in 1869 as charg? d'affaires ad interim. He was a Republican representative from the fourteenth, eighteenth and seventeenth Ohio districts respectively in the 42d-46th congresses, 1871-81, and was chairman of the committees on education and labor. He was professor of political science and modern history at Oberlin 1883-98. He is the author of: Lectures, Addresses and Essays, delivered before the students of Oberlin. He died in Oberlin, Ohio, July 6, 1898.

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

Nathan Fellows Dixon, senator, was born in Plainfield, Conn., Dec. 13, 1774; son of William and Priscilla (Denison) Dixon. He was graduated from Brown university in 1799, was admitted to the bar and settled in Rhode Island, beginning practice at Westerly in 1802. He was a member of the general assembly of the state, 1813-30, and a senator in congress. 1839-42, and died while in office, at Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 1842.

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

James Wright Gordon, governor of Michigan, was born in Plainfield, Conn., in 1809. He was elected lieutenant-governor of Michigan in 1839, taking his seat, June 7, 1840. The same year he was the regular Whig candidate for U.S. senator, but a fusion of Democrats and dissatisfied Whigs in the legislature combined against him and elected Governor William Woodbridge and on Feb. 24, 1841, on the resignation of Governor Woodbridge to take his seat in the senate, Goodwin succeeded to the governorship, serving to Jan. 3, 1842. He then retired from public life, went to South America for his health and died from the effects of a fall from a balcony at Pernambuco, S.A., in December, 1853.

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