Orville Hungerford (October 29, 1790 – April 6, 1851) was a two-term United States Representative for the 19th District in New York. He was also a prominent merchant, banker, industrialist, freemason, philanthropist, and railroad president in Watertown, New York. Early years The youngest of seven children, Orville Hungerford was born in Farmington, Connecticut (now Bristol) on October 29, 1790. His family claims descent from Thomas Hungerford of Hartford, Connecticut, who arrived in the New World some time prior to 1640. Orville's father, Timothy Hungerford, moved his family to Watertown Center in western New York, now part of Watertown (town), New York, in the spring of 1801. An entry in a 1905 genealogical publication by the local historical society described the education of Orville Hungerford as follows: Merchant As a pioneer, needing help with his farm, Timothy Hungerford was only able to send his son to "winter schools", effectively precluding him from going to college. Not enamored with eking out a living from the land, at age fourteen Orville began working as a clerk in his brother-in-law Jabez Foster's general store in the frontier village of Burrs Mills (also known as Burrville), New York. Orville's initial job duties consisted of "sweeper, duster, office-boy and caretaker." This business was a partnership between Foster and Thomas M. Converse. While Orville watched over the store, Foster would head to Albany in mud wagons and sleighs and then make the arduous week-long trek to Manhattan via sloop to purchase supplies before returning to Watertown. Creating such a supply line between Watertown and New York would be critical in later years as well as impress upon Orville the need for solid transportation lines. In 1807 or 1808, Jabez Foster along with Orville Hungerford moved the store to Watertown, a busier location. Orville's diligence paid off and he became Foster's partner in the firm known as Foster & Hungerford, which profited handsomely from selling supplies to U.S Army stationed at Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812. Foster & Hungerford developed its own transportation network contracting with others to deliver its war supplies during the 2nd major conflict with the British. For example, in September 1812, Jabez Foster hired Eber Hubbard to move supplies that he and Orville Hungerford had procured on behalf of the U.S. government using Hubbard's boat to journey from "Sackett's Harbor" down the St. Lawrence River to the U.S. troops stationed in Ogdensburg,