Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

was an Independent, he was the manager
of the three campaigns for the governorship
of Massachusetts of Governor Wil-
liam Russell, and managed several other
political campaigns. Subsequently, he
was owner of the railroad between East
Aurora and Buffalo. Mr. Leon is a great
student and has given considerable time
to the invention of Cellugraph, an oilless
bearing which has been widely adopted
by the largest textile manufacturers of the
country. Mr. Leon married Lorion H.
Nice, daughter of John and Lucy (Clark)
Nice. The father of Mr. Leon was Ernest
Leon, who was born in Paris. He
died when his son, Albert Ernest, was
but twelve years of age. His wife was
Mercy Jane (Jones) Leon, of an old New
Hampshire family.
The family home is a most attractive
residence at Shippan Point, built by Mr.
Rorech in 1919. It was designed entirely
by Mrs. Rorech, is constructed of stucco,
and in architecture, floor plan, and appointments
shows discriminating taste
and judgment in homemaking. A view of
this beautiful home accompanies this
record.
WATERBURY, William TeU,
Master Mariner.
The career which Captain William Tell
Waterbury chose was one which has appealed
to the youth of the land for gener-
ations. It was a natural tendency for
him to follow, considering the many hours
he spent with his father, and his associa-
tions. The Waterbury family, which has
been identified with Stamford since ear-
liest Colonial days, were pioneers in
steamboat transportation for Stamford
freight and passenger traffic, and contrib-.
uted more in their time, perhaps, than
any other agency to the material up-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
432
building of the city. The family is still
prominent in the commercial life of Fair-
field county.
(I) John Waterbury, the first of this
family to settle in Stamford, was among
those who came from Wethersfield, Con-
necticut. He received a grant of land in
1650, and died eight years later. His children
remained there and founded the numerous
families of that name which are
still prominent in this section of the country.
In an old "History of Stamford" by
Rev. Mr. Huntington, the author speaks
of this family in the most glowing terms,
as follows
:
There were the Waterburys, then known as
Senior and Junior, the former being a colonel in
the Continental service, who had earned some
reputation for good judgment and military ability
in the field, and the latter soon to earn by his per-
sonal fitness for it, the rank of general of brigade.
(II) David Waterbury, the son of John
Waterbury, was born in Stamford, Con-
necticut, in February, 1722, the twelfth
day. He did excellent service in the
French and Indian War, and was commissioned
major. He was representative
in the General Assembly when the Rev-
olutionary War broke out, and served the
cause of the colonies with such ardor
and fidelity that he was esteemed one of
the noblest patriots of Stamford. He entered
the war a colonel and was promoted
to brigadier-general in 1776. After the
close of the war, he was selectman and
representative, and remained a resident of
Stamford until his death, June 29, 1801.
(III) Captain William Waterbury,
fourth son of David Waterbury, was
born October 10, 1765, and died January
ID, 1842. He was much in the public
service, and opposed the tax on the Con-
gregational Church Society, using his pri-
vate means liberally to establish the freedom
of the church in the same spirit that
he had given his services to the cause of