Timothy Beach Blackstone
Born in Branford on March 29, 1829, the son of James and Sarah (Beach) Blackstone, Timothy Beach Blackstone was a sixth-generation descendant of the first settler of Boston, Rev. William Blackstone. Reared on his father's farm on Pine Or chard Road, which had been in the family for five generations, he became a civil engineer. Although the dates are unclear, he spent several years prior to 1851 as a teacher in Branford. At the age of 18, he went to work as a rodman on the survey for the New York and New Haven Railroad, an experience that set the stage for the rest of his career.
After serving as assistant engineer in the construction of the Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad and of the Vermont Valley Railroad, in 1951 Timothy relocated to Illinois as a division engineer in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad. For five years, from 1856 to 1861, Timothy was the chief engineer for the Joliet and Chicago Railroad and served as its president from 1861 to 1864. Clearly a gifted businessman, at the early age of thirty five, he was made president of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, a position he held until his retirement in 1899. He also served as Mayor of LaSalle, Illinois. On October 20, 1868, Timothy married Isabella Farnsworth Norton of Branford and Norwich.
In 1890, several citizens committed to establishing a public library in Branford sought gifts from successful businessmen. They extended their efforts to those who were natives of the town but no longer residents. Upon receiving their inquiry, Timothy welcomed this opportunity to support such a project in his birthplace and offered to underwrite the entire construction expense of the library building, which would be named in memory of his father. Upon further discussion as the project developed, he extended his support to providing an endowment for the library.
Determined to ensure that the library would serve the needs of the community, maintain high standards in the materials it offered, and be a true educational resource for the community, Blackstone insisted on one condition: Under a special charter from the State Legislature, the library would be governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees consisting of six Branford residents and the librarian of Yale University. The act of incorporation of the James Blackstone Memorial Library Association was approved by the governor on March 23, 1893.
At the time of his death On May 26, 1890, Timothy Blackstone had amassed a fortune of $6 million. As a testimonial to the value that he had placed on learning, after his death his widow, Isabella, had a library built in his memory in Chicago and, upon her death, left additional money to the James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford.
After serving as assistant engineer in the construction of the Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad and of the Vermont Valley Railroad, in 1951 Timothy relocated to Illinois as a division engineer in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad. For five years, from 1856 to 1861, Timothy was the chief engineer for the Joliet and Chicago Railroad and served as its president from 1861 to 1864. Clearly a gifted businessman, at the early age of thirty five, he was made president of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, a position he held until his retirement in 1899. He also served as Mayor of LaSalle, Illinois. On October 20, 1868, Timothy married Isabella Farnsworth Norton of Branford and Norwich.
In 1890, several citizens committed to establishing a public library in Branford sought gifts from successful businessmen. They extended their efforts to those who were natives of the town but no longer residents. Upon receiving their inquiry, Timothy welcomed this opportunity to support such a project in his birthplace and offered to underwrite the entire construction expense of the library building, which would be named in memory of his father. Upon further discussion as the project developed, he extended his support to providing an endowment for the library.
Determined to ensure that the library would serve the needs of the community, maintain high standards in the materials it offered, and be a true educational resource for the community, Blackstone insisted on one condition: Under a special charter from the State Legislature, the library would be governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees consisting of six Branford residents and the librarian of Yale University. The act of incorporation of the James Blackstone Memorial Library Association was approved by the governor on March 23, 1893.
At the time of his death On May 26, 1890, Timothy Blackstone had amassed a fortune of $6 million. As a testimonial to the value that he had placed on learning, after his death his widow, Isabella, had a library built in his memory in Chicago and, upon her death, left additional money to the James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford.