History of Bowdoinham, (Sagadahoc County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

Orrington Lunt, philanthropist, was born at Bowdoinham, Maine, Dec. 24, 1815; son of William and Matilda Lunt. He was an assistant in his father's store, becoming a partner in 1836 and sole proprietor on the retirement of his father shortly afterward. He was married Jan. 16, 1842, to Cornelia A. Gray of Bowdoinham, and in the same year he disposed of his business and removed to Chicago, Ill., where he became an operator in grain in 1844. During the civil war he raised and equipped the first regiment to start for Cairo, Ill., and also provided the army with supplies in large amounts throughout the war. He left the United States in 1865, being in ill health, and travelled in Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land for several years. Shortly after his return to Chicago the great fire occurred, in which he suffered severe losses, which his extraordinary energy soon retrieved. He was associated with John Evans and others in rounding the city of Evanston, Ill., and in establishing the corporation known as Trustees of the Northwestern University in 1851, chartered Feb. 23, 1867, as Northwestern University and also its theological department, the Garrett Biblical institute. He was an original trustee, a member of the executive committee, 1851-97, and vice-president and president of its board of trustees, 1875-97. He also served as secretary and treasurer of the Garrett Biblical institute for over thirty years. He gave the university about $200,000 during his lifetime, which included nearly $100,000 for the Orrington Lunt library building in 1894. He was water commissioner of the southern division of Chicago, 1855-62; treasurer and president of the board of public works of Chicago, and auditor of the board of directors of the Galena and Chicago Union railroad, and its vice-president for two years. He died in Evanston, Ill., April 5, 1897.

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

Gardner Colby, philanthropist, was born in Bowdoinham, Maine, Sept. 3, 1810; son of Josiah C. and Sarah (Davidson) Colby. His father died poor when Gardner was quite young, and his mother, to meet the wants of her children, removed to Charlestown, Mass. Gardner secured a fair education and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston in 1830. He was interested in various enterprises, including the china trade, real estate and manufacturing woolen goods. He gained a large fortune, principally through the sale of woolens during the civil war, and through the rapid rise in Boston "South Cove" lands. He was elected in 1870 president of the Wisconsin central railroad and built a line of 340 miles of railway, penetrating the forests of the state. During his lifetime, even when a clerk, he was a systematic contributor from his earnings to philanthropic causes. Brown university, the Baptist missionary union, Waterville college and Newton theological institution were his most conspicuous beneficiaries, and Waterville college became Colby university in acknowledgment of his princely gifts at a time of desperate need. He was treasurer of Newton theological institution, 1844-68; president of the board of trustees, 1870-79; a trustee, 1843-79; and trustee of Colby university, 1865-79. His son, Henry Francis Colby, born in 1842, was graduated from Brown in 1862, became a Baptist clergyman, and was elected president of the board of trustees of Denison university in 1890. Gardner Colby died in Newton Centre, Mass., April 2, 1879.

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