American Biography

Sylvester Graham was a minister and a vegetarian, born in Suffield Connecticut in 1794, the son of the Rev. John Graham who came from England to Boston Massachusetts in 1718. Sylvester received his early education from his father, who was a graduate of Oxford University.

In 1813 Sylvester Graham began to teach, and subsequently entered Amherst college with the intention of studying for the ministry. After a short time there he was invited by the faculty to leave, having exhibited ability for elocution and acting, which was considered unbecoming in one preparing for the ministry. Nevertheless, in 1826 he was ordained a Presbyterian clergyman.

Four years later while delivering a course of lectures before the Pennsylvania Temperance Society, he was impressed with the idea that a vegetable diet would alleviate the appetite for stimulants. The remainder of his life was given up to the study of this theory and to the demonstration of its value, until he finally advocated the vegetable diet as a cure for all diseases. Graham believed that bad diet caused sexual excess, and that children conceived in lust were bound to die young.

At first he met with great opposition, especially from butchers and bakers, but subsequently gained a considerable following. His name was given to unbolted wheat flour (course flour that has not been sifted to remove the bran), which he promoted as a health food. The ‘Graham Cracker’ made from such flour was also named for him.

Mr. Graham was the author of An Essay on Cholera (1832); The AEsculapian Tablets of the Nineteenth Century (1834); Science of Human Life (1836); A Lecture to Young Men on Chastity (1838); Bread and Bread-making; and one volume of The Philosophy of Sacred History.

Sylvester Graham died at Northampton Massachusetts on September 11th 1851, at the age of 57.

Albert Banks Hill was born at Redding Connecticut on May 28th 1847. Albert Banks Hill and Arthur Bradley Hill were twins; and the youngest of seven children of Bradley Hill and Betsey (Banks) Hill.

Bradley Hill’s mother was the niece of Joel Barlow, LL. D., poet, author and diplomat; who was born in Redding Connecticut in 1754, and died in Poland in 1812. Albert Banks Hill was the son of Bradley Hill of Redding Connecticut who was the son of William Hill of Fairfield Connecticut who was the son of Moses Hill of Fairfield Connecticut who was the son of Joseph Hill of Fairfield Connecticut who was the son of William Hill of Fairfield Connecticut who was the son of William Hill of Fairfield Connecticut who was the son of William Hill of Fairfield Connecticut who came over from England in 1632, twelve years after the Mayflower, and settled in Fairfield Connecticut. It is recorded that “he was a man of note among the colonists.”

Albert Hill attended the common schools of Redding and prepared himself for college with the aid of one term at private school. In 1866 he entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale and graduated as Ph. B. with the Class of 1869. In 1870-1871, he was instructor in Mechanics and Surveying, Yale, S. S. S., and received degree of C. E. In 1871 he entered the City Engineer’s Department, New Haven Connecticut, and was put in charge of the party on Survey of the City of New Haven. In 1872 he was made Assistant Engineer in charge of sewer construction; and from 1883 to 1892 was City Engineer of New Haven. Later he went into private practice as Civil and Consulting Engineer, with his office at New Haven Connecticut.

Mr. Hill held the following offices: 1883-1892, City Engineer, New Haven Connecticut; 1892, Director American Society Civil Engineers; 1905, President Connecticut Society Civil Engineers. He was a member of the following societies and clubs: Graduates Club, New Haven Connecticut; Chamber of Commerce, New Haven Connecticut; Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, Connecticut Society Civil Engineers, American Society Civil Engineers, New England Water Works Association, Finance Committee, Organized Charities Association of New Haven Connecticut.

Some of the Engineering Works designed by Mr. Hill and executed under his direction as Engineer, were: The swing bridge over Norwalk River at South Norwalk; the steel arch bridges over Mill River, New Haven; over Lake Whitney, Hamden; over Lieutenant River, Lyme. The suspension bridge over Lake Whitney, 270 feet span, for New Haven Country Club. The stone arch bridges, East Rock Park. Reinforced Concrete arches, in Cheshire, Hamden, Waterbury, and over Ash Creek, Bridgeport. Electric Railway bridges on various lines radiating from New Haven. Park drives: The East Rock, West Rock, and Beacon Hill Park Drives, New Haven Public Park System. Portions of the New Haven sewage system; sewage systems for Danbury, and for Shelton Connecticut; disposal works for Litchfield Connecticut; Outfall system, Greenwich Connecticut. Electric Railways: Norwalk to South Norwalk; South Norwalk to Roton Point; Norwalk to Winnipauk; New Haven to Bridgeport; Bridgeport to Fairfield and Southport; New Haven to Derby; New Haven to Cheshire; Cheshire to Waterbury; Cheshire to Milldale; New Haven to Wallingford; New Haven to East Haven; and Palmer to Ludlow Massachusetts. Water Works: As Consulting Engineer to The New Haven Water Company, the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, and the Greenwich Water Company; the design of the reservoir dams of these corporations. The Saltonstall tunnel of The New Haven Water Company, one-third of a mile long under the Saltonstall Ridge. The construction of the Filtration Plant of The New Haven Water Company.