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Notable Backuses...
and In-Laws
A - B
Azel Backus -
Renowned Preacher
"Backus, Rev. Azel, D. D., of the sixth generation from William
Backus, Sen., the Proprietor, was born at West Farms, October 13, 1765.
He was the son of Jabez, Jr., and Deborah (Fanning) Backus, both of whom
are said to have been persons of great excellence of character. His father
dying when he was only five years of age, bequeathed to him a farm, which
he says, "I wisely exchanged for an education in college." He graduated
at Yale in the class of 1787. While in college he had skeptical tendencies;
but his uncle, Rev. Charles Backus, D. D., by his faithful efforts won
him from infidelity and reared him up for the ministry. He was ordained
April 6th, 1791, as the immediate successor of Dr. Bellamy, at Bethlehem,
where he not only labored faithfully as a pastor, but also instituted and
conducted a school of considerable celebrity, at which a large number of
young men were prepared for admission to college.
In Sept., 1812, Dr. Backus was elected first President of Hamilton
College. His mature experience in the instruction and management of young
men was doubtless greatly auxiliary to his success in this somewhat similar,
though more extensive field of labor.
He was a man of an original cast of thought, distinguished by susceptibility
and ardor of feeling; was possessed, withal, of brilliant talents and rose
rapidly in popular favor, for while comparatively a young man he was selected
by the senior Gov. Oliver Wolcott to preach the annual election sermon
before the Legislature of Conn. This appointment was fulfilled with very
marked ability in 1798. In June,
1808, he was chosen moderator of the General Association of Conn.,
and two years later he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity
from the college in New Jersey.
Duyckinck remarks, that "His biography remains to be written in a
manner worthy of the part which he sustained in caring for the first wants
of a college," etc., and adds, that "A careful memoir written somewhat
after the manner of Xenophon's Memorabilia, or Boswell's Johnson, would
be welcomed by many readers."
Dr. Backus died Dec. 9, 1817, of typhus fever, which then prevailed
in the college and vicinity. He married, in 1791, Melicent Demming, of
Wethersfield, who with five children survived him. His daughter, Mary Ann,
became the first wife of Hon. Gerret Smith, of Peterboro.
For a list of his publications reference may be had to Dr. Sprague's
Annals of the Pulpit, Vol. II, page 283."
The Congregational Church and Society, in Franklin, Connecticut,
Pp 66-67
The lineage of Azel Backus is:
1 William Backus I 1606 - 1661
.. +Elizabeth 1610 - 1643
........ 2 William Backus II 1634 - 1721
........ *2nd Wife of William Backus II:
............ +Elizabeth Pratt 1642 - 1703
.................. 3 Nathaniel Backus 1669 - 1728
.................. *2nd Wife of Nathaniel Backus:
...................... +Elizabeth Tracy 1676 - 1739
............................ 4 Jabez Backus 1712 -
................................ +Eunice Kingsbury 1712 -
...................................... 5 Jabez Backus,
Jr. 1740 - 1770
.......................................... +Deborah Fanning
1740 -
................................................ 6 Azel
Backus 1765 - 1816
Charles
Backus - Renowned Preacher
"Backus, Rev. Charles, D. D., of the fifth generation from William
Backus, Sen., the Proprietor, was born at West Farms, Nov. 4, 1749. He
was the third son of Jabez, Sen., and Eunice (Kingsbury) Backus, both of
whom he lost in childhood, but through the assistance of friends he was
enabled to obtain a thorough classical education, and graduated at Yale
in 1769. While in college he had a high reputation both for scholarship
and deportment. Pres't Dwight, his classmate, said of him, "I have not
known a wiser man." His theological education was under the direction of
Levi Hart, D. D., of Preston. In 1775 he was ordained to the pastoral charge
of the congregational church in Somers, Conn., in which place he remained
till his death, Dec. 30, 1803. The sermon at his ordination was preached
by Rev. John Ellis, of West Farms.
His high reputation as a theologian procured for him invitations
from Yale and Dartmouth Colleges to occupy the chair of Theology in each
of these institutions. These in each instance he modestly declined. But
his eminence as an instructor drew around him many who were designed for
the ministry. Nearly fifty young men were at different times members of
his theological school. Among them were Dr. Woods, of Andover, Dr. Hyde,
of Lee, Dr. Cooley of Granville, Pres't Moore, of Amherst College and many
others of nearly equal distinction. In 1801 he received the honorary degree
of D. D., from Williams College. Shortly after his settlement at Somers
he was married to Bethia, daughter of Jacob Hill, of Cambridge, Mass. Jabez,
their only child, died suddenly while a member of Yale College, March 16,
1794, in his seventeenth year.
The publications of Dr. Backus were numerous. From 1785 to 1798,
he published twelve distinct sermons, besides five discourses on the divine
authority of the scriptures, in 1797. For a more particular description
reference may be had to Dr. Sprague's Annals, Vol. II, p. 62."
History of The Congregational Church and Society of Franklin, Connecticut
The lineage of Charles Backus, the noted preacher, is:
1 William Backus I 1606 - 1661
.. +Elizabeth 1610 - 1643
........ 2 William Backus II 1634 - 1721
........ *2nd Wife of William Backus II:
............ +Elizabeth Pratt 1642 - 1703
.................. 3 Nathaniel Backus 1669 - 1728
.................. *2nd Wife of Nathaniel Backus:
...................... +Elizabeth Tracy 1676 - 1739
............................ 4 Jabez Backus 1712 -
................................ +Eunice Kingsbury 1712 -
...................................... 5 Charles Backus
1749 - 1803
Charles
Chapman Backus - Founder of American Express
Charles Chapman Backus financier, was born in Charlton, Saratoga
county, N.Y., March 13, 1816, seventh in lineal descent from William Backus,
who lived at Saybrook, Conn., as early as 1637, and was, with his son Stephen,
among the original settlers of Norwich in 1659. In 1745 and and 1756,
Timothy Backus, the great-grandfather of Charles C. Backus, maintained
successfully a religious contention exercising all New England. His grandfather,
Elisha Backus, fought at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was a major
in the American revolutionary forces, and his father, Elisha Backus, was
an American colonel in the second war with Great Britain.
Charles C. married in 1840, Harriet Newell, daughter of Edward Baldwin
of Utica, N.Y. At the age of twenty-three he engaged in the book
and publishing business at Utica, N.Y., as one of the firm of Bennett,
Backus and Hawley, who also issued there the Baptist Register, which subsequently
was merged in the Examiner of New York city, and became the leading
paper of the Baptist denomination in the country.
In 1840, Livingston, Wells & Pomeroy established an express
business between New York city and Buffalo, and engaged Bennett, Backus
& Hawley to act as their agent in Utica. The "express" consisted
in the conveyance of money packages between the banks along the line
of the New York Central and Hudson River railroads, and Mr. Henry Wells
was the sole messenger, his freight being carried in a hand-bag.
The income at first was so small that, time and again, Mr. Wells was on
the point of abandoning the enterprise, but Mr. Backus encouraged him to
persevere, for he foresaw the vast capacities of the business, if extended,
to include the carrying of merchandise. This
was eventually done, and Mr. Backus became interested in it, and soon afterwards
conceived and organized with others the American express company.
Mr. Backus was one of the original promoters of the House telegraph
system, and these interests demanding much of his time, he abandoned the
book concern, and in 1850 removed to New York city in order to be
at the centre of business operations. About 1861 Mr. Backus was placed,
on behalf of the stockholders of the New York Central railroad, upon
an examining committee, to inspect the road's financial affairs and
general management. The disclosures arising from his thorough inquiry effected
the installation of Dean Richmond as the new president of the road,
and made an entire change in the financial methods and conduct of this
great corporation. After 1865 Mr. Backus was constrained by impaired
health to forego much of his earlier activity, yet his earnest interest
in affairs, his valuable advice and his benefactions kept his name
prominent. He died at the home of his son, Henry Clinton Backus,
New York city, Feb. 13, 1899.
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume I
I have not figured out the lineage of Charles Chapman Backus yet.
If anyone knows, please let me know!
Isaac Backus
- Preacher
BACKUS, Isaac, clergyman, was born at Norwich, Conn.. Jan. 9, 1724;
son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tracy) Backus. He was ordained pastor of the
Congregational church at Middleborough in 1748, and continued as pastor
and evangelist until 1756, when he assumed charge of a newly formed Baptist
church in the same town. From 1765 to 1799 he was a trustee of Rhode Island
college. In 1774 he was chosen agent of the Baptist churches of Massachusetts,
and in this capacity was sent to Philadelphia to enlist in behalf of the
Baptists the protection of the Continental Congress. President Manning
of R. I. college presented a memorial, petitioning for relief from the
persecution and oppression to which the Baptists were at that time subjected,
and Mr. Backus made several addresses in behalf of religions freedom. In
1789 he made a tour through Virginia and North Carolina for the purpose
of strengthening the Baptist denomination in that section. He published:
"History of New England with Particular Reference to the Denomination of
Christians called Baptists" (1777, 2d ed., 2 vols., 1871); "An Abridgement
of the Church History of New England, 1602-1804" (1804), and "Church History
of New England from 1620 to 1804" (1844). He died Nov. 20, 1806.
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable
Americans: Volume I
The Backus lineage of Isaac Backus is
1 William Backus I 1606 - 1664
.. +Elizabeth 1610 - 1643
........ 2 William Backus II 1634 - 1721
........ *2nd Wife of William Backus II:
............ +Elizabeth Pratt 1642 - 1730
.................. 3 Joseph Backus 1667 - 1740
...................... +Elizabeth Huntington 1669 - 1745
............................ 4 Samuel Backus 1694 -
1740
................................ +Elizabeth Tracy 1698 - 1769
...................................... 5 Isaac Backus
1724 - 1806
James Backus
- Ohio Pioneer
"BACKUS, James, pioneer, was born at Norwich, Conn, July 14, 1764;
son of Elijah and Lucy (Griswold) Backus. At the age of twenty-four he
joined the colony which, under General Rufus Putnam, founded Marietta,
and thus was one of the first settlers of Ohio. As agent of the Ohio company
he made the first surveys in Marietta, and he is said to have built, at
the junction of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, the first frame house that
was erected in Ohio, then the Northwest Territory. He was both a civil
and military officer in the new settlement, as his journal shows. He was
a man of means, and devoted his money without stint to the benefit of the
settlement. He erected the first saw and grist-mill at Marietta, and had
driven from New England the first yoke of oxen that ever trod the soil
of Marietta, Ohio. The mill crank and saw, the grist-mill spindle, and
the other irons were made by his father at the Backus iron works, Norwich,
Conn. He remained at Marietta about three years, and in March, 1791, he
returned to Yantic, to succeed his father in the management of the Backus
iron works, which had been established by his grandfather, and carried
on by his father, both prior and subsequent to the war of the revolution.
He was widely known as a man of character, great energy and executive ability.
In 1793 he was married to Dorothy Church, daughter of Charles Church Chandler,
of Woodstock, Conn. He died Sept. 29, 1816."
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable
Americans: Volume I
The lineage of James Backus, Ohio Pioneer, is:
1 William Backus I 1606 - 1664
.. +Elizabeth 1610 - 1643
........ 2 William Backus II 1634 - 1721
........ *2nd Wife of William Backus II:
............ +Elizabeth Pratt 1642 - 1730
.................. 3 Joseph Backus 1667 - 1740
...................... +Elizabeth Huntington 1669 - 1745
............................ 4 Samuel Backus 1694 -
1740
................................ +Elizabeth Tracy 1698 - 1769
...................................... 5 Elijah Backus
1726 - 1798
.......................................... +Lucy Griswold
1746 -
................................................ 6 James
Backus 1764 - 1816
John Backus
- Mathematician, Inventor of the Fortan Computer Language
See
his biography.
John C. Backus
John C. Backus
is currently president of Intelidata, Inc. Unknown lineage.
Jim Backus
- Mr. Magoo
Many of us grew up with the beloved blind guy, Mr. Magoo. See a
web site for Jim
Backus, who was his voice. Unknown lineage.
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Hiram Bingham
- Early Explorer of Early South American People, Early
Aviator, Connecticut Governor and Senator
"BINGHAM, Hiram, a Senator from Connecticut;
born in Honolulu, Hawaii, November 19, 1875.
He was educated at Punahou School and Oahu
College, Hawaii, 1882-1892, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 1892-1894,
Yale University 1894-1898, University of California at Berkeley 1899-1900,
and Harvard University 1900-1905; taught history at Harvard University
1902-1905, history and politics at Princeton University in 1905 and 1906,
and history of South America at Yale University 1907-1917.
In 1906 and 1907 explored Bolivar's route across
Venezuela and Colombia, and, in 1908 and 1909, the Spanish trade route
from Buenos Aires to Lima; United States Government delegate to the First
Pan American Scientific Congress at Santiago, Chile, in 1908; directed
the Yale Peruvian expedition in 1911; made further Peruvian explorations
under the auspices of Yale University and the National Geographic Society
1912-1915.
Captain of Headquarters Company, Tenth Field
Artillery, Connecticut National Guard, in 1916; became an aviator in the
spring of 1917; organized the United States Schools of Military Aeronautics
in May 1917; commissioned major, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, June 6,
1917; promoted to lieutenant colonel October 25, 1917; commanded the flying
school at Issoudun, France, from August to December 1918.
Alternate at large to the Republican National
Conventions in 1916 and 1920 and delegate at large in 1924, 1928, 1932,
and 1936; presidential elector on the Republican ticket of Hughes and Fairbanks
in 1916; Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut 1922-1924; elected Governor
of Connecticut on November 4, 1924; elected as a Republican to the United
States Senate on December 16, 1924, to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Frank B. Brandegee in the term ending March 3, 1927; reelected in 1926
and served from December 17, 1924, to March 3, 1933.
Appointed a member of the President's Aircraft
Board by President Coolidge on September 12, 1925, and served until its
final report in December 1925; unsuccessful candidate for reelection to
the United States Senate in 1932; engaged in banking and literary work
in Washington, D.C.; during World War II lectured at naval training schools
in 1942 and 1943; died in Washington, D.C. June 6, 1956."
Biographical Directory of the American Congress,
1774-1949, page 850
The Backus lineage of Hiram Bingham is:
1 William Backus I 1606 - 1661
.. +Elizabeth 1610 - 1643
........ 2 William Backus II 1634
- 1721
........ *2nd Wife of William Backus
II:
............ +Elizabeth Pratt 1642 -
1703
.................. 3 Hannah Backus
1675 - 1752
...................... +Thomas Bingham,
Jr. 1667 - 1710
............................ 4
Joseph Bingham 1709 - 1787
...................................... 5
Calvin Bingham 1750 -
................................................
6 Hiram Bingham 1789 -
..........................................................
7 Hiram Bingham 1831 -
....................................................................
8 Hiram Bingham
1875 - 1956
Aaron Burr -
Vice-President and Controversial Figure
Aaron Burr, is NOT a Backus (that I know of, anyway). He was in
the Edwards line that is shared by some Backus branches. Those Backuses
who are descendants of various related Edwards / Backus marriages are his
cousins on the Edwards side. Jonathan Edwards, the famous preacher, was
Aaron Burr's maternal grandfather.
Aaron Burr, in older histories, is treated as a villain, in spite
of:
Revolutionary War leader.
Accomplished politician.
Lost to Thomas Jefferson for president by only one vote.
He killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, when the political careers of
both men were probably at an end, and was threatened with murder charges.
His political career ruined as a result, if it wasn't already at an end
(which is what he probably thought anyway and probably contributed to the
duel.) He had a mysterious goal of establishing a "separate" country in
the southwest, similar to Austin of Texas, tried for treason, found innocent.
From the moment of the duel he became a symbol of the "bad guy".
However, modern historians seem to be doing a double-take on Aaron
and that he really was a "good ole boy". And, that Alexander Hamilton wasn't
exactly the saint previously depicted by previous historians. (Hamilton's
private life could have been a model for Pres Clinton.)
Aaron Burr is related to all of the descendants of William Spencer
through a common matriarch, Agnes Harris. I have multiple tie-ins with
various lines to the Edwards line at various spots. Many Backuses will
be cousins to him. Edwards is not an ancestral line of mine. This is his
Edwards lineage. Note he is a grandson of Jonathan Edwards (Great Awakening)
and a first cousin of Eli Whitney's wife.
1 William Edwards 1618 - 1680
.. +Agnes Harris 1604 - 1680
.... 2 Richard Edwards 1647 - 1718
........ +Elizabeth Tuttle (Tuthill) 1645 - 1687
........... 3 Timothy Edwards 1669 - 1758
............... +Esther Stoddard 1672 - 1771
.................. 4 Jonathan Edwards 1703 - 1758
...................... +Sarah Pierpont 1709 - 1758
........................ 5 Esther Edwards 1732 - 1758
............................ +Aaron Burr, Sr. 1716 - 1757
............................... 6 Aaron
Burr 1756 - 1836
Here are some web sites on Aaron:
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