Colt, Samuel – Comfort, Aaron Ivins
Colt, Samuel
inventor, was born July 19, 1814, in Hartford, Conn. While a sailor, Mr. Colt had whittled out a wooden model of a pistol, which should fire several shots before reloading, and in 1835 obtained a patent for this weapon, both in America and in England and France. A new plant was created in 1852 upon a tract of 250 acres in Hartford, and in 1855 the Colt Patent Fire Arms company was organized to carry on the business.
He died Jan. 10, 1862, in Hartford, Conn.
Colton, Calvin
clergyman, author, was born in 1789 in Longmeadow, Mass.
He was an episcopal clergyman of some note in his day as a political writer, and the author of Manual for Emigrants to America; History of American Revivals; Protestant Jesuitism; Public Economy for the United States, a plea for protection; Life of Henry Clay; and Junius Tracts.
He died March 13, 1857, in Savannah, Ga.
Colton, Gardner Quincy
inventor, author, was born Feb. 7, 1814, in Georgia, Vt. He discovered the remarkable properties and made a practical application of the use of nitrous oxide; and commenced a series of lectures on the effect of nitrous oxide upon the human system. He has also achieved some celebrity as a writer on various theological subjects.
Colton, George Hooker
poet, was born Oct. 27, 1818, in Westford, N. Y.
He was a noted writer and the author of a poem entitled Tecumseh. He died Dec. 1, 1847, in New York city.
Colton, Walter
journalist, author, was born May 9, 1797, in Rutland, Vt.
He was a journalist and educator who established the first newspaper in California, and built the first schoolhouse there. As chaplain in the United States navy he visited many parts of the world. He is the author of Visit to Athens and Constantinople; Land and Lee in the Bosphorus and Ægean; and other works. He died Jan. 22, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Columbus, Christopher
discoverer, was born about 1436. He discovered America on Oct. 12, 1492. He died May 20, 1506, in Valladolid.
Colver, Nathaniel
clergyman, was born May 10, 1794, in Orwell, Vt. He was eminent as an anti-mason and abolitionist; was an able preacher and had great power with the masses. He founded and put in successful operation at Richmond, the Colver institute for educating young men of color for the ministry. He died Sept. 25, 1870, in Chicago, Ill.
Colvin, Addison B
journalist, public official, was born in 1858 in the state of New York. He attended school in the Glens Falls academy, and at the age of eighteen years he was the editor and proprietor of the Glens Falls Daily Times, and was at that time the youngest editor of a daily paper in the United States. Since 1894 he has been treasurer of the state of New York; and is the president of the New York State league of Republican clubs. He is secretary and treasurer of the Queensbury republican town committee; secretary and treasurer of the Warren county republican committee; treasurer of the Republican league of the State of New York; was for several years director and vicepresident of the Warren County Agricul- ا tural society; is a stockholder of the Glens Falls Gas Company; was one of the organizers of the People's National bank of Sandy Hill; is a director of the Crandall Free library of Glens Falls; was one of the organizers and is a charter member of the United Press association; is a member and ex vice-president of the New York Press association; was one of the organizers and first vice-president of the Commercial Union Telegraph company; is ex-chief engineer of the Glens Falls fire department; was organizer and president of the Glens Falls Messenger Service company; was one of the organizers and vice-presidents of the Glens Falls board of trade, and is a member of the Glens Falls Business Men's association.
Colvin, Verplanck
engineer, surveyor, lecturer, author, was born Jan. 4, 1847, in Albany, N. Y. In 1872 he applied to the legislature for aid, and in consequence the Adirondack survey was instituted, with himself as superintendent. His work during that year included the discovery of Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds, the most elevated lake spring and source of the Hudson river. About 1881 he delivered at Hamilton college a series of lectures on geodesy, surveying, and topographical engineering.
Colwell, J. B
clergyman, was born July 19, 1834, in Herefordshire, England.
In 1862 he graduated from the Garret Biblical institute of Evanston, Ill.; has since attained eminence as one of the foremost clergymen of the methodist episcopal church in Illinois, and now fills a pastorate at Ridge Farm.
Colwell, Stephen
merchant, author, was born in 1800 in Vermont. He was an iron merchant of Philadelphia, who wrote much on current topics, especially matters relating to political economy. He was the author of Ways and Means of Commercial Payment; Money on Account; Removal of the Deposits from the Bank of the United States; Domestic Production and Internal Trade; Hints to Laymen; Charity and the Clergy; Politics for American Christians; and New Themes for Protestant Clergy. He died Jan. 15, 1872, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Colyar, Arthur St. Clair
lawyer, was born June 23, 1818, in Washington county, Tenn. He was self-educated, and achieved success as a lawyer. He opposed secession in 1861, but became a member of the confederate congress and served till 1865. After the war he reorganized the Tennessee Coal and Railroad company, becoming its president, and also engaged in manufacturing; and has done much to develop the resources of the south.
Colyer, Vincent
painter, was born in 1825, in Bloomington, N. Y. His works include Johnson Straits, British Columbia; Columbia River; Pueblo; Passing Shower; Rainy Day on Connecticut • Shore; and Winter on Connecticut Shore.
He died July 12, 1888, in Connecticut.
Coman, Charlotte B
painter, was born about 1845 in Waterville, N. Y. After painting in France and Holland for six years, she returned to the United States, and opened a studio in New York. Her best works are French Village; Sunset at the Seaside, France; Peasant Home in Normandy; Cottage in Picardy; Old Windmills in Holland; Spring-Time in Picardy; and Poppy-Field in Normandy.
Coman, Katherine
educator, author, was born in 1857 in Ohio. She is a professor of history at Wellesley college, and the author of Outlines in Constitutional History of England; Outlines in Industrial History; and The Growth of the English Nation.
Combes, Richard C
underwriter, was born May 17, 1827, in New York city.
He was secretary of the Exchange Fire Insurance company of New York city, and in 1870 was its president. He is the president of the National Switch and Signal company, and of Palmer's Torpedo Machine company.
Combs, John Alfred
lawyer, lecturer, was born Jan. 22, 1851, in Canada. He was educated at the public schools of Stony Creek, Alexander's private academy, and the High school of Hamilton, Canada; and has attained success as a prominent lawyer of Saginaw, Mich. During 1890-94 he was chairman of the republican committee for Saginaw county, Mich.; in 1895-97 was state lecturer of the Orange lodge, and for one year was the worthy preceptor of the Royal Black Knights of the Camp of Israel.
Comegys, Benjamin Bartis
banker, author, was born in 1819 in Delaware.
He is a banker of Philadelphia, and the author of Tour Round My Library, and Other Papers; Advice to Young Men and Boys; A Primer of Ethics; Talks with Boys and Girls; How to Get On, a Book for Boys; Turn Over a New Leaf; An Order of Worship; and Old Stories with New Lessons.
Comegys, Cornelius P
governor, was born in Delaware. He was governor of that state from 1837 to 1840.
Comegys, Joseph Parsons
lawyer, United States senator, was born Dec. 29, 1813, in St. Jones's Neck, Del. He was elected a member of the house of representatives of the state in 1842 and 1848. In 1851 he was appointed one of a committee of three to revise the statutes of the state and in 1856 was chosen to fill a vacancy in the United States senate.
Comer, John
clergyman, was born in 1704 in Boston, Mass. He left a diary in manuscript, which contains interesting information of the early history of the baptists in America. He died May 23, 1734, in Old Rehoboth, Mass.
Comer, Thomas
actor, was born Dec. 19, 1790, in England. In 1827 he came to the United States, and was successively musical director at the Tremont theater, the Museum, and the Boston theater.
His forte was acting eccentric parts and Irish impersonations. He was also skilled in musical composition. He died July 27, 1802, in Boston, Mass.
Comfort, Aaron Ivins
physician, surgeon, was born March 4, 1827, in Penn's Manor, Pa. He received his education in the public schools, Williston seminary, Amherst college, and the university of Pennsylvania. He was assistant instructor of the classics and higher mathematics, and assistant demonstrator of anatomy in the university of Pennsylvania; consulting accoucheur of the Philadelphia Lying-in Charity hospital; and consulting physician of the Southern dispensary of Philadelphia. During the civil war he was captain and assistant surgeon of the United States volunteers, and acting assistant surgeon United States army during 1865-92. He is now first assistant surgeon in the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Milwaukee, Wis. Dr. Comfort has contributed monographs on Indian mounds to the Smithsonian institution; and contributed valuable papers and articles to medical literature.