THE REV. JOSEPH SCOTT.
A graduate of Washington, now Trinity College, Hartford, was rector of St. James's parish eight years, between the rectorships of Revs. Stephen Jewett and William Bliss Ashley.  A terrible sickness, while in Derby, broke down his constitution and he was obliged to accept a smaller parish at Naugatuck, where he died much lamented, in the fifty-first year of his age.  While rector of St. James he was noted for his urbanity of manners and his meek and consistent walk as a Christian minister.
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  643

CHARLES W. SHEFFREY, M. D.
Was born at Birkenhead, England, in 1834, and came to this country when quite young with his parents who settled at New Haven, Conn., where he obtained his early education, and afterwards attended the Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., finally graduating at Yale Medical School in 1861.  During the war Doctor Sheffrey was assistant surgeon in Connecticut volunteers, and in 1866 settled in Ansonia where he resided five years, during which time he enjoyed a large practice.  In 1871 he removed to Bridgeport, Conn., where he is at present practicing his profession.
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  645

HORACE M. SHEPARD. 
Was the first lawyer who located in Humphreysville, then a part of Darby.  He was from Newtown and son of Col. Timothy Shepard, a prominent lawyer of the Fairfield county bar.  He remained but a short period after Alfred Blackman located at that place.
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  647

REV. JOHN D. SMITH
Was born in Derby, Feb. 12, 1804, being the son of Sheldon Smith, who was an industrious farmer but unable to give his son more than a common school education.  John D. kept school winters and studied what time he could command, with Rev. Stephen Jewett, with whom after obtaining a good knowledge of the classics he pursued his theological studies, and was ordained deacon, July 7, 1833, at Hartford, and advanced to the priesthood Sept. 22, 1834, by Bishop Brownell.  He took charge of Union church, now Trinity, at Humphreysville at Easter, 1834, and was its rector nearly until his death, Sept. 4, 1849, aged forty-five years.
     Mr. Smith was an original thinker and one of the active laboring ministers of his day.  His salary for a while was inadequate to his support, and he was obliged to unite other pursuits with his ministerial labors.  He was poor-master for some time and also kept a book-store.
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  646

SHELDON SMITH.
There were two Sheldon Smiths who lived at the Neck, neighbors, relatives by marriage, farmers, who have recently died.  They were both conspicuous in town matters.  Sheldon the senior was many years selectman, and represented the town in the Legislature, and was instrumental in building the first Methodist church in Birmingham.  He was the father of thirteen children including the late Rev. John D. Smith of the Episcopal church.  He died in 1867, aged eighty-six years, after a well-spent, useful and Christian life.
     Sheldon the junior was for twenty years selectman and town agent of Derby, and perhaps no officer of the town was more watchful of its interests than he.  Of an inquiring and logical mind, well-read in the statutes, it may be said that few lawyers in the state were better posted on the pauper laws  than he, and in consequence of this he was often consulted by selectmen of adjoining towns.  Both these Smiths were highly influential, and their ancestors were interested in the early agricultural interests of the town.  He died Oct. 10, 1866, aged sixty- nine years.
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  647

BRADFORD STEELE.
Son of Capt. Bradford Steele, enlisted July 10, 1777, at the age of sixteen under Captain Cor_is, regiment of Colonel Enos, and was at first stationed at Horseneck but soon after ordered to join a branch of the Continental army under the command of Major Humphreys.  They marched to Peekskill and there joined the army and marched to Westchester, about two thousand strong, having two pieces of artillery.  At the battle of Fort Independence Steele, with Lieutenant Pritchard and others, was taken prisoner.  One of their number becoming deranged under his sufferings, the British soldiers beat him with their muskets, then tied him on a horse, took him to King's bridge and threw him over, leaving him with his head and shoulders buried in the mud.  At night Steele and thirteen companions were placed in a small tent guarded by Hessian soldiers, and if any one pressed out the tent-cloth he was sure to feel the prick of the bayonet.  Next day they were taken to the Sugar House, where most of the prisoners had nothing to eat for three or four days.  They were then allowed four ounces each of wormy sea-biscuit and four ounces of Irish pork daily.
     About the first of December they were put on board a ship in the North river.  After fifteen days the small-pox broke out, and Steele and twenty-five others were taken to the hospital where they had so little care that only four of the number survived.  Steele was one man with his feet so frozen that after a time they dropped off at the ankles.  One day while he was imprisoned in the Sugar House a well-known tory came along and was allowed by the guard to pass in, when the prisoners seizing him, dragged him to the pump and gave him a thorough drenching; he was then allowed to run, the prisoners saying good-by with a shower of brick.  On the 8th of August, 1778, the few surviving prisoners received tidings that they were to be exchanged.  Said Steele: "On the next day we were all called out and paraded in the prison yard.  To behold such a company of living skeletons one might almost imagine that the prophecy concerning the dry bones had been fulfilled in us."  On August 16th, they were landed at Elizabethtown Point and were marched to the meeting-house, where the exchange was made.  Steele and three others who were too much reduced by their sufferings to be capable of any further military service were discharged and returned home.  After some months he recovered his health, and was for many years a highly respected citizen of Humphreysville, and deacon of the Congregational church.  He died Dec. 24, 1841, aged eighty years.^{25
---------------
     25} History of Seymour.
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 647

ABIRAM STODDARD, M. D.
Was born in Watertown, Jan. 27, 1777, and was an industrious boy with peculiar characteristics, and after his preparatory studies entered Yale College and was graduated in 1800.  He attended medical lectures in company with Doct. Eli Ives of New Haven, at the Medical University of Philadelphia, where he received his degree of M. D.  He was also the private pupil of the eminent Doct. Rush.  When attending lectures he often rode from Watertown to Philadelphia and returned on horseback.
     On the death of Doct. Samuel Sanford, the first physician of Chusetown, Doct. Stoddard located at that place, in 1804.  He soon succeeded to a large and lucrative practice and became an Esculapian oracle among the people.  He was a bold practitioner in the methods of his day, - the lancet, calomel and jalap being his king remedies.  Full of eccentricities, yet having the confidence of his patients, he could do and say what would be ruinous to other physicians.  So he was often peculiar i his prescriptions.  One day he was sent for to see an hysterical woman in Watertown.  All the noted doctors had tried in vain to cure her.  After a thorough examination he said to the husband, "Have you any raccoons in this vicinity?"  "Plenty of them, Doctor," was the reply.  "Well, tell the boys to kill four or five, skin them and make a jacket of them, and skin to skin let her wear it two weeks, and in the meantime you may amuse her with the music of a fiddle, - no medicine - then come down and let me know how she is getting along."  This was something new, but at the end of two weeks the jacket had become very unpleasant to the olfactories.  The disconsolate husband sent the boy to report.  Meeting the doctor he said, "Mother is no better."  "Did you make the jacket?"  "Yes."  "Has she worn it?"  "Yes."  "And is no better?"  "None."  "Did you cut the tails off?"  "Yes."  "There it is; I didn't tell you to do that:  the whole curative virtue was in the tails."
     He was odd among his fellow physicians and delighted, seemingly, in an opposite opinion.  On a certain occasion Doctor A. Beardsley had a patient in whom the community had a deep interest in the recovery.  This patient was not a particular favorite of Doctor Stoddard.  Partly by appointment and partly by accident, a consultation was held.  Doctor Charles Hooker, the eminent Doctor Knight, and the then young Doctor P. A. Jewett from New Haven, Doctor Joseph Tomlinson of Huntington, Doctor E. Middlebrook of Trumbulll, Doctor Stoddard and the attending physician, were present.  After the examination of the patient, the medical advisers retired to the councilroom.  Doctor Hooker, who had seen much of the case, stated that his "diagnosis was that the disease was chronic pleurites, with copious effusion of serum water, - at least seven pints in the left cavity of the thorax."  Doctor Stoddard, then the oldest of the council, standing in one corner of the room leaning upon his staff, replied, "Not a d___n drop."  The doctors looked a little confused.  Doctor Knight expressed his views, that he was not in the habit of measuring water in the living body, but the amount must be considerable.  "Not a d__n drop."  Doctor Jewett said he was sure there was "a large collection of water in the chest."  "Not a d__n drop."  Doctor Middlebrook said that he "agreed with the physicians, and unless the accumulation of water could be removed the patient must die."  "Not a d__n drop; I disagree with you all," replied Doctor Stoddard.  "Then what is the matter?"  was the inquiry.  "Let us have your views."  "Nothing but sap run down from his head into his chest, and he will get well."  this closed the council, and that worthy patient is still living.
     Doctor Stoddard had a wide reputation and was deemed eccentric in his manners; was strong-minded, and in his way quite influential.  He accumulated a handsome fortune from his practice, and departed this life Dec. 23, 1855, aged 79 years.
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  651

THOMAS STODDARD, M. D.,
Son of Doctor Abiram Stoddard, M. D., was graduated at Yale Medical School, and after several years' practice since 1836, retired to farming and has nearly given up his profession.
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  654

LEMAN STONE
Was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1751, where he was engaged as a farmer some years.  He sold his possession there about 1785 and came to Derby soon after, where he engaged as a merchant.  At that time and during the Revolution the Landing was the centre of mercantile operations, and during its days of prosperity, from about 1790, no man is referred to more than Leman Stone as an enterprising business man.  With great energy and expense to himself he pursued different public enterprises with a view to the general good of the community, especially the building of a stone-house and wharf, and the New Haven turnpike; but the turn which the drift of trade took was against his financial plans, whereupon he turned his attention to the raising of garden seeds with Benjamin Hodge, a cooper by trade, as his assistant, which resulted more to his benefit than mercantile trading had done.  He was a conscientious, upright, public spirited man; sacrificed much for the early prosperity of the town, and no man was more highly respected than he as a Christian gentleman.  He died May 10, 1847, aged ninety-six years, and the place where his remains lie in the old Episcopal church-yard had no headstone until within a few years since, when some grateful friends erected a suitable slab to his memory.
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  655

DOCT. NOAH STONE
Was a physician in active practice in Oxford many years; held many offices of trust; judge of probate, justice of the peace, town clerk and treasurer; and was a respected and honored citizen.
     His daughter, Martha Stone, was a well educated lady and married Rev. Stephen Hubbell, a congregational minister, Oct. 30, 1832, and became the authoress of a book called "Shady Side" which had a sale of forty thousand copies, and was said to have had a greater influence to increase the salaries of ministers throughout New England, and to have awakened a more just consideration for ministers' families, than any one thing that had transpired.  She afterwards wrote other works, and her manuscripts were in great demand by publishers.
     Mrs. Hubbell's health gradually declined and her useful career was brought to a close at life's high noon, at the age of two score and two years.
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  655

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 656

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  658

WILLIAM TERRY, M. D.
Was born at Enfield, Conn., in 1822.  His early education was obtained in the public and private schools of his native town, and at Amherst College one year.  He graduated from the medical department of the Pennsylvania College, Philadelphia, Penn., in 1846, and was for a number of years located at Sutton, Mass., and came to Ansonia in 1860.  During the Rebellion Doctor Terry was assistant surgeon of the U. S. Military hospital at Alexandria, Va.  He has been a member of the town school committee and registrar of vital statistics.  Naturally of a modest disposition he has declined accepting public offices, and given his attention to the practice of his profession, thereby establishing a lucrative business and a high standing 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  661

REV. GEORGE THATCHER, D. D.,
Son of Peter and Anne (Parks) Thatcher, was born in Hartford, Conn., July 25, 1817.  Prepared for college at Hopkins grammar School, Hartford; was graduated at Yale College in 1840, and at Yale Divinity School in 1843.  He came to Derby in June, 1843; was ordained here Jan. 4, 1844, and dismissed Oct. 10, 1848.  He was installed at Nantucket, Mass., Nov. 14, 1848, dismissed May 14, 1850; installed in Allen Street Presbyterian church, New York city, May 26, 1850, dismissed Oct. 9, 1854; installed in First church, Meriden, Conn., Nov. 16, 1854, dismissed Sept. 18, 1860; installed at Keokuk, Iowa, Oct. 30, 1860, dismissed Apr. 8, 1867.  After spending some months in Europe he supplied the Mercer Street church for a time, and then became the acting pastor at Waterloo, Iowa, where he continued three years.  He was president of the State University of Iowa from 1871 to 1877; then acting pastor in Iowa City one year; received the honorary degree of D. D. from Iowa and Knox Colleges in 1871.  He died in Hartford, Conn., of disease of the brain and heart, Dec. 27, 1878, aged 61 years.²⁸
---------------
     ²⁸ Cong. Year Book, 1879.
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  661

JOHN L. TOMLINSON
Was born in Derby, and read law with Dudley.  His office was in one of the chambers of the ancient house now occupied by Miss Rachel Smith and her two sisters.  He succeeded Josiah Dudley; the latter, as near as can be ascertained, was the first educated lawyer located in Derby Narrows.  He is represented as being a man of talent, but died early from amputation of the leg.  During the shipwreck of the derby Fishing Company, when many of the people were mortgaging their property to secure the company their negotiable notes, it is said he had a lively business day and night.  Tomlinson was in the war of 1812, being first lieutenant in a company from Derby stationed at New London.  Well read, and of a discriminating mind, he was not a very successful advocate at the bar.  The latter years of his life were under the shadow of a great cloud, by his unfortunate connection with the Derby Bank, which failed in 1825 through the legerdemain of Wall street brokers.  The popular belief awards Mr. Tomlinson the credit of being honest in his transactions with the bank.  Prior to his leaving Derby in 1832 his spirits were enlivened by brighter hopes of the future, for he entered the ministry of the Congregational church, in which he labored with much zeal; went west, where he died, aged about 70 years.
Source:  History of Town of Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut - 1642 - 1880 - Page 662

HON. DAVID TORRANCE.
Few public men of to-day enjoy a wider popularity than Hon. David Torrance.  He was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, Mar. 30, 1840, and came early to this country with his mother and located at Greenville, Conn., where he found employment as an apprentice in a paper mill, in which he continued until his enlistment.
     He entered the Union army in 1862, as a member of the 18th Regiment, C. V., but his intelligence and aptitude for command led to his speedy promotion to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 29th Regiment (colored), in which he served until the close of the rebellion.
     On his return from the war he came to Birmingham and studied law with Col. William B. Wooster, and was admitted to the bar in 1858, and since then, being associated with Col. Wooster in the practice of his profession, he has worked his way to an enviable position at the bar.  In 1871 and 72 he represented Derby in the Legislature at a time when the town had but one representative, and distinguished himself by a number of able speeches and conscientious work as a legislator - notably in the preparation of the schedule for railroad returns adopted at the session of 1872.
     Col. Torrance was elected by the republicans in 1879 to the office of secretary of state, and has proved himself an able and efficient officer in that position.
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  662