JOHN W. DEFOREST
Son of John Hancock, and Dortha (Woodward) De Forest, was born Mar. 31, 1826, at Humphreysville, Conn.
     In 1846-7 he traveled eighteen months in the Levant; visiting Greece, Constantinople, the Holy Land and Northern Syria.  Returning home he collected the materials for the "History of the Indians of Connecticut," and finished that work during his twenty-third year.
     He then went to Europe and remained four years; visiting England, France, Germany and Italy, acquiring during the time the French, Italian and Spanish languages.  Having found rest once more in his native America he devoted himself to literature in connection with magazines and the publishing of books; his earliest volumes being two books of travels, "Oriental Acquaintance" and "European Acquaintance," and soon after followed two novels, "Witching Times" and "Seacliff."
     The civil war breaking out he raised a company and entered the service as captain of company I, 12th regiment Connecticut volunteers, in which he saw over three years of field duty, including several battles in Louisiana and Virginia, and the siege of Port Hudson, in all forty-six days under fire, receiving one wound.  Brevetted major and transferred to the invalid corps, he served over three years longer, acting as adjutant-general of the invalid corps, and subsequently as chief of a district under the Freedmen's Bureau.
     Returning to civil life he re-commended writing, and produced successively the novels, "Miss Ravenel," "Overland," "Kate Beaumont," "The Wetherel Affair," "Honest John Vane," "
Playing the Mischief," "Justine Vane," and "Alice the Missionary;" several of them being published as serials in the leading magazines.  Besides these he has written some fifty short stories, a number of articles and reviews, and many fugitive poems.
     Mr. De Forest is residing in New Haven and pursuing his literary tastes.
Source:   History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642 - 1880 with Biographies and Genealogies by Samuel Orcutt & Ambrose Beardsley, M. D. - Publ. Press of Springfield Printing Company, Springfield, Mass.  1880 - Page 544

SIDNEY A. DOWNES was born in Huntington, Conn., in 1817, and came to Birmingham in 1838 and entered into mercantile business, but afterward engaged in the hardware business in the store now occupied by F. Hallock and Company.  Still later he became interested in the manufacture of hoop skirts, and up to January, 1880, was business manager of the house of Downes & Bassett, corset manufacturers.
     Mr. Downes has held many offices of trust, among them, judge of probate, town clerk and assessor, besides being administrator on many estates.  He is held in high esteem by the citizens of Derby, and in business relations has established a reputation for honesty and fidelity which few public men attain.
Source:  History of Town of Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut - 1642 - 1880 - Page 545

WILLIAM E. DOWNES
Was born in Milford, Aug. 22, 1824.  After leaving the common school he prepared for college under the instruction of Rev. Asa M. Train, entered Yale in 1841, and was graduated with honor in 1845.  He read law with the Hon. Alfred Blackman one year; was in the law-school one year, was admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1848, and in December of the same year came to Derby, opened an office and commenced the practice of his profession in which he continued about fifteen years, securing a growing business and a fine reputation as a lawyer at the New Haven county bar.  On June 24, 1851, he was married by the Rev. Mr. Guion of the Episcopal church to Miss Jane Maria, the only daughter of the late Dr. John I. Howe.  Doct. Howe, resigning the general management of the Howe Manufacturing Company in 1863, urged his son-in-law to relinquish his profession and take his place in the company.  Mr. Downes hesitated, as his taste and legal habits had wedded him to his profession, but he finally yielded, assumed the position, and since the death of Doct. Howe in September, 1876, has been principally engaged with his father-in-law's estate and manufacturing interests.  He has generally neglected political preferment, but consented to represent the town in the Legislature in 1855, and for years has been a valuable member of the Board of Education in the town.  He has been a continuous director in the Ousatonic Water Company, and was very efficient in carrying forward the magnificent project of building the Ousatonic dam.
     A ripe scholar, progressive in literary attainments, kind, considerate and liberal to the poor, without ostentation; identified with various enterprises as a capitalist, Mr. Downes occupies a commanding and influential position in the community.
Source:   History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642 - 1880 with Biographies and Genealogies by Samuel Orcutt & Ambrose Beardsley, M. D. - Publ. Press of Springfield Printing Company, Springfield, Mass.  1880 - Page 545

CHARLES DURAND, was born in Derby, the son of Samuel Durand, plain farmer who could give to his son only the benefits of a common school education.  His entrance into public life was first as a clerk and afterwards a merchant in New Haven.  Thence he went to New York city and entered business as a dry goods merchant, but subsequently turned his attention to manufacturing, and was active in forming the Osborn and Cheeseman Company of Ansonia.
     Mr. Durand possesses considerable talent, is of pleasing address, a fine off-hand speaker, and in several whig and republican presidential campaigns has taken the platform and rendered good service to his political principles.  He was twice elected from Derby as representative to the Legislature, and in 1877 was elected Speaker of the House, which position he discharged with fidelity and credit to his party.
Source:  History of Town of Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut - 1642 - 1880 - Page 546

DOCT. HOSEA DUTTON
Was born in Southington, Conn., and settled in Derby (now Oxford) about one hundred years ago.  He was self-educated, made good progress in Latin, Greek and Hebrew without a tutor, and was an expert in mathematics.  With these advantages he seems to have had full command of the place, holding nearly all the offices; and was bitterly opposed to the settlement of a rival physician, especially when Doct. Noah Stone encroached upon his territory.  He was rather changeable in his religious proclivities, being first a Presbyterian, then a Methodist, afterwards a Baptist, and finally an Episcopalian.  On the purchase of a bell for the Congregational church, he gave one month's earnings from his profession, which amounted to $26.  He was a strong whig in the Revolution and was roughly opposed by the tories.  He died at Oxford in his ninety-second year.
     His son, Thomas A. Dutton, succeeded him, and had an extensive practice for several years, when he removed to Newtown, Conn., in 1845, thence to Birmingham and afterwards to Milford, and finally to West Haven, where he now resides in feeble health at an advanced age.  In all these places Doct. Dutton secured the confidence of the people as a physician.
Source:   History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642 - 1880 with Biographies and Genealogies by Samuel Orcutt & Ambrose Beardsley, M. D. - Publ. Press of Springfield Printing Company, Springfield, Mass.  1880 - Page 546