COLBY, Gardner, philanthropist, born in Bow-doinham, Maine, 3 September, 1810; died in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 2 April, 1879. After receiving the rudiments of an English education, he entered the dry-goods business in Boston, and afterward engaged in manufacturing woollen goods. During the civil war he was a large contractor for the supply of clothing to the national army, and in 1870 became president of the Wisconsin central railroad. Mr. Colby was distinguished for his liberal contributions to benevolent objects. Newton theological seminary, Brown University, and the American Baptist missionary union received large sums from him. A gift of $50,000 to Waterville College, Maine, caused the name of that institution to be changed to Colby university. He occupied many important places of trust and honor in the Baptist denomination, and for years was treasurer of Newton theological seminary.--His son, Charles Lewis, born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1839, was graduated at Brown in 1858. He removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 1874, and became president of the Wisconsin central railroad. He was a member of the legislature in 1880, and became a trustee of Brown University in 1879.--Another son, Henry Francis, clergyman, born in Boston Highlands (Roxbury), Massachusetts, 25 November, 1842, was graduated at Brown in 1862, and at Newton theological seminary in 1867. He has been pastor of the 1st Baptist church in Dayton, Ohio, since his ordination in 1868, and in 1883 was president of the Ohio Baptist convention. He has travelled extensively in Europe. He has published a class poem (1862), and sketches of Gardner Colby, Caleb Parker, and Ebenezer Thresher.