Oliver Bronson (1799-1875)
Dr Oliver Bronson, of New York & Connecticut
He was born at Breakneck, Middlebury, Connecticut. He was educated at Yale University, afterwards graduating from the College of Physicians & Surgeons (later Columbia) in 1818. As a young man, he toured France and inherited his father's financial acumen by making savvy investments (mostly in railroads) that helped to grow his already substantial trust fund. While resident in Hudson, at the Oliver Bronson House, he was Superintendent of Schools in Hudson, Columbia County (1851-1854). In 1868, Florida drew up its new constitution and Governor Harrison Reed hired Bronson to serve as the Superintendent of the St. John's County School System. To that end, the family moved to St. Augustine and their house there later became the Saint George's Hotel. He died at Richfield Springs, New York. He was married at New York in 1833 to Joanna Donaldson whose brother built Blithewood. They had four sons.
