Ledyard Bill

Ledyard Bill (May 14, 1836 – October 6, 1907) was an American politician, book publisher, and author. A successful book publisher in New York City, late in his life he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and was a Massachusetts Senator for two terms.

Early life, education and family

Ledyard Bill was born on May 14, 1836, in Ledyard, Connecticut. His parents were Lucy Yerrington and Gurdon Bill. He was part of the prominent Ledyard family in Connecticut and Massachusetts. For one grow season in childhood he worked on a farm, to learn the skills. Bill attended prep schools at Norwich Academy and Suffield Academy.

During the outbreak of the American Civil War, Bill moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and founded the Union League Club of Louisville. He had to flee Louisville around a year later in 1862.

Career and late life

Bill founded the Bill Publishing Company of New York City in 1862, at 75 Fulton Street. He lived in Brooklyn for many years. Bill was a corresponding member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society starting in 1867.

Bill and Sophia Rogers Earle married in 1872, in Brooklyn.

He moved to Paxton, Massachusetts in 1874 due to his declining health. Bill served in the Massachusetts Senate (1894, 1895) and Massachusetts House (1891) for Worcester County, and was the chair of the Republican Congress District Committee.

He and his brothers helped establish in 1867 the Bill Library in Ledyard, Connecticut. It was moved into a new building at 718 Colonel Ledyard Highway that remains in existence. In 1873, Bill donated an obelisk war monument next to the Bill Library. Over the years the library building has been expanded.