Biography

Gideon Hiram Hollister (1818-1887), historian and author, was born at Washington, Conn., Dec. 14, 1818, son of Gideon and Harriet (Jackson) Hollister, and a descendant of John Hollister, who came to America from England about 1642. Gideon Hiram Hollister was graduated at Yale College in 1840. While a student he was president of the Linonian Society and editor of the "Yale Literary Magazine" and he was class poet. After graduation he studied law under the direction of Judge Seymour, at Litchfield, Conn., and being admitted to the bar in 1842, practiced for a short time in Woodbury. In 1843 he was appointed clerk of the courts at Litchfield, Conn., a position which he held—with an interregnum of one year—until 1851, continuing meanwhile in the active practice of his profession. He acquired great political influence in the western part of the state, and in 1850 was elected to the state senate. During 1868-1869 he served as minister to Haiti. On his return he practiced for a short time at Bridgeport, and in 1876 returned to Litchfield, and represented that town in the state legislature in 1880. As a writer he is chiefly known for his "History of Connecticut" (1855), which passed through many editions, and is an authoritative work. He published a valuable treatise on the "Law of Eminent Domain," and at the close of his life was engaged in writing a history of Haiti. He also published: "Blount Hope; or, Philip, King of the Wampanoags; an Historical Romance" (1851); "Thomas a Becket, a Tragedy," and other poems (1866); "Kinley Hollow; a Novel," published in 1882, after his death. He was married, June 3, 1847, to Mary S. Brisbane (1828-1914), of South Carolina. Only one of their children, John Brisbane Hollister, survived to adulthood. Gideon Hollister died at Litchfield, Conn., Mar. 24, 1881. (The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1904)

Mentioned in 18681109WHS_CharlesSumner: "You have sent to me the Boston Daily Advertiser in which you have marked a paragraph denunciatory of President Salnaive of Hayti, of the United States minister there, and of this Government"