USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 7
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Dr. Thatcher, to whom I am indebted for these facts, observes further concerning him :
" With his professional erudition Dr. Osborn united great literary acquirements, and his knowledge of books was varied and extensive. These acquisitions he often displayed in his course of public instruction. His view of the materia medica as a science, was equalled by few, and his knowledge of the actual medical qualities of the native productions of our soil, was a subject which he delighted to investigate, and in his practice, and by his instructions, he earnestly enjoined an acquaintance with these important medical agents."
" Dr Osborne was a man of much more science and eminence in his profession, than either his father or his grandfather, and possessed a very fine taste for poetry, Belles-letters and painting. While quite a young man, Mr. Barlow submitted to him and his friend, the late Richard Alsop Esq., the manuscript of the "Vision of Columbus," for their correction and revision, previous to
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its publication. His taste in painting was highly culti- vated, and he might have attained to great eminence ag an artist."*
Dr. Samuel Osborne, was a physician of quite respec- table standing, first in Brooklyn, and then in New York city
Joseph Osborne and William Franklin Osborne, both were endowed with poetic talents.
I have seen three pieces of the former. Two of them were written to be spoken by lads at an exhibition fol- lowing the examination of a school, one at the beginning and the other at the close, at which parents were expect- ed to be present. They express finely the feelings of children and parents on such occasions. The third piece is a paraphrase on the third chapter of the Epistle of James. As a specimen of this, take the first stanza :
" Him mayest thou deem a perfeet man, whose word,
To give offenee or pain was never heard :
Who rules his tongue; is master of the art,
To rule his passions and control his heart."
A number of deceased physicians, besides those al- ready mentioned, practised here. But most of these died so recently that they are still remembered, and we have not time now to speak of them particularly.
Dr. Nathaniel Little resided in the Upper Houses from 1742 to 1746; who, after the latter date is sup- posed to have removed to Lebanon. Of his practice and skill nothing is known.
Between 1757 and the close of the last century, Dr. Aaron Roberts, and four or five other physicians, practis- ed in the Upper Houses for shorter or longer periods.
Dr. Asher Ward, a native of the parish, practised in
* Thatcher's Medical Biography.
* 8
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Middlefield, probably some eight or ten years, and died there in 1788. Dr. Jehiel Hoadley, after a much longer practice, died there in 1810. About 1785, Dr. Josialı Hatch practised for a short time in Westfield. He af- terwards practised in New Hartford, but spent the lat- ter part of his life in Grandville, Miss., where he died in August, 1834, aged 80.
It is probable that the settlers in Portland employed physicians from this side the river, for more than thirty years. The Rev .. Moses Bartlett, who was settled there in 1733, and died in 1766, was a physician ; as was also a son of his who bore his name, and lived until 1810. The former studied both theology and medicine, with Rev. Phineas Fiske of Haddam, his father in-law ; and the latter, with Dr. Benjamin Gale of Killingworth, now Clinton. Contemporary with this physician for some years, was Dr. Thomas Wells, and also Dr. Elisha Phelps.
Dr. Joshua Arnold, brother of Dr. John Arnold, and probably instructed by Mr. Fiske, was a physician in Middle Haddam at an early period, and was succeeded by Jeremiah Bradford and Amos Skeele.
Dr. Robert Usher was a native of Millington, in East Haddam, and a student of Dr. Huntington of Windham. He settled in that part of Chatham which was attached to the parish of Westchester, in 1762. Upon the break- ing out of the Revolution, he went as a volunteer to the vicinity of Boston, and in Jan., 1776, " was appointed surgeon, &c., for Wadsworth's regiment, in the recruits (then) raised for Cambridge," and served some time in in that capacity. He died in 1820, in his 77th year.
Titus Hosmer, Esq., has been mentioned, and more must be said of him. While in Yale College, he was distinguished for the acquisition of science, excelled in
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the languages, and in fine writing. Being graduated in 1757, he probably settled here about 1760.
By nature he had the genius of a poet, and there is said to be a hymn in existence composed by him. He encouraged Barlow to write the Vision of Columbus, as Barlow gratefully acknowledges in an elegy addressed to his widow.
" Come to my soul, O shade of Hosmer, come,
Tho' doubting senates ask thy aid in vain ;
Attend the drooping virtues round thy tomb,
And hear awhile the orphan'd muse complain.
The man which thy indulgence bade aspire, And dare pursue thy distant steps to fame,
At thy command she first assumed the lyre, And hop'd a future laurel from thy name.
How did thy smiles awake her infant song ! How did thy virtues animate the lay !
Still shall thy fate the dying strain prolong, And bear her voice with thy lost form away."
In the subsequent part of the elegy, Barlow sympa- thizes with the large, and greatly afflicted family, and extols the excellencies of his friend.
The profession which Mr. Hosmer chose, led him to cultivate the powers of the understanding, rather than the imagination ; and in this profession, faithfulness to his clients and strong powers of reasoning, soon raised him into esteem with the bar and the court ; and secured him not only much professional business, but civil offices of honor and importance. Besides the common town offi- ces and the commission of the peace which he held, he was elected a Representative to the General Assembly, from October, 1773, constantly until May 1778, when
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he was elected an assistant, and thus annually until 1780, the year of his death. In 1777, he was speaker of the house of representatives, and had great influence in prompting the Legislature to the adoption of vigorous measures against Great Britain. During a part of the war of the Revolution, he was a member of the Council of safety, and in 1778, besides being an assistant in the State Legislature, he was a member of the Continental Congress. In January, 1780, when the plan was ma- tured by Congress, for establishing a Court of Appeals, principally for the revision of maritime and admiralty cases in the United States, he was elected one of the three judges. There seems to have been an understand- ing, that one of the judges should be elected from a southern, one from a middle, and one from an eastern section of the country. Seven men were put in nomina- tion for election, and when the votes were cast, George Wythe of Virginia, William Paca of Maryland, and Titus Hosmer of Connecticut, were chosen. Mr. Wythe declined the appointment, Mr. Paca and Mr. Hosmer accepted. But on the duties of this appointment Mr. Hosmer was not permitted to enter, dying suddenly, August 4th, 1780, aged 44.
His person was above the common size, and his coun- tenance expressive. His passions were naturally quick and strong, but kept under discipline. Fond of conver- sation, and extensively acquainted with men and books, he often entertained at his house a group of friends who courted his society. In deliberative bodies he was al. ways heard with that attention and pleasure, which are secured by lucid and manly argumentation, connected with probity and patriotism. He was, in one word, a gentleman of correct moral habits, a thoroughi scholar, a learned and eloquent lawyer, and a sound practical states-
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man ; deeply versed in national law and universal histo- ry. An obituary notice of him in the Connecticut Cour- ant, says, that he was endowed with a natural genius and capacity of uncommon magnitude, which, cultivated by the best and most liberal education, and continually im- proving, shone with remarkable lustre, and made him eminently useful in every department of life. Such abilities and improvements, joined with the most polish- ed and engaging manners, formed him, in a rare degree, for influence and service among mankind. He is also styled in this notice, " the gentleman, the scholar, the friend, the patriot, the judge, the benefactor."
The celebrated Dr. Noah Webster regarded him as one of the greatest men Connecticut cver produced. Hc numbered him among the three " mighties," : and these three he designated as William Samuel Johnson, L.L. D. of Stratford, Oliver Ellsworth of Windsor, Chief Jus- tice of the United States, and the Hon. Titus Hosmer of Middletown.
Mr. Samuel Whittlesey Dana, son of Rev. James Dana, D.D. of Wallingford, afterwards of New Haven, was graduated at Yale College in 1775, and soon after came to this town. Having prepared himself for his profession, he opened a law office. He had popular tal- ents, and his appearance at the bar was admired, and had he devoted himself entirely to his profession, he would probably have commanded a large amount of practice. By military promotions he was advanced to the command of a brigade. But his friends early sought to bring him forward into political employments, first by electing him a representative to the State Legislature, and then to the Councils of the nation, so that for a course of years he acted rather as a statesman than a lawyer, being either a representative or a senator in Congress through a part
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of the administration of Washington, through the whole of the administration of Adams, Jefferson and Madison, and a portion of that of Monroe. During this period, subjects of great difficulty and embarrassment came be- fore the National Legislature, concerning which very dif- ferent opinions were formed. General Dana, though frank in expressing his own views, conducted himself in such a manner that he retained the respect of both par- ties, as well as of his constituents. In the latter part of his life he was several years mayor of the city of Mid- dletown : he also accepted the office of presiding Judge of the County Court, which he held until his death in July, 1830.
Mr. Asher Miller, a native of the parish of Middle- field, belonged to a class in Yale College, which was graduated in 1778, and has always been admired for the amount of talent which it contained. He ranked well in this class, and after he left college, made himself ac- quainted with geology, mineralogy and chemistry, muchi beyond scholars generally. who lived at that time. He be- came a lawyer, and the people here esteemed and honored him. Though it is not likely that he began to practice law before 1780, yet in 1785 he was elected a representa- tive to the Legislature and repeatedly afterwards, and the Legislature so esteemed him for his knowledge of law and integrity, that in 1793 they appointed him a judge of the Superior Court. He resigned his seat in 1795. Sometime after he went to the South, to survey a tract of wild land about the mouth of the Yazoo river, for a com- pany who were hoping out of those lands to realize a for- tune. He was again elected a representative to the Legislature, was long an assistant and many years pre- siding judge of the county court, and judge of probate. Upon the death of Col. Hamlin in 1791, he was elected
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mayor of the city, and held this office, with the two offi- ces just mentioned, until his death, December 24th, 1821.
Two sons of the Hon. Titus Hosmer became lawyers, Stephen Titus Hosmer and Hezekiah Lord Hosmer. The former entered Yale College, and pursued his stud- ies there, until the supension of the regular operations of the College in the Revolution, after which he completed his collegiate course under Dr. Dwight, and his name is enrolled in the class he entered, which was graduated in 1782. He studied law with the Hon. William Samuel Johnson, and the Hon. Oliver Ellsworth, his guardian, and about 1785 commenced practice in this place. Left without patrimony, he was thrown upon his own efforts for support and fame, and by the steady exertion of his talents he soon secured a very large practice ; larger it is believed than any lawyer who has lived in this county, and which he retained until he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court in 1815. His custom was to read the books connected with his profession with such fixed attention, and so repeatedly, page by page, that the con- tents became indelibly fixed upon his memory, and he could call up at will nearly all the reports of cases in support of any point, without referring to his books. By this means he acquired a wonderful memory, which was of great service in his judicial labors. His briefs were prepared with very great attention, the points clear- ly stated, and cases numerously cited. His habits were exceedingly regular, each week day being devoted to the study of law, interrupted only by the hour's walk which he daily took, and each evening devoted to general read- ing; for which enjoyment he had the means in a large library, containing among other books, many on the- ology, which he loved to peruse. He was also ex- ceedingly fond of music, which he studied scientifically,
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and for many years in the earlier period of his life, he was a very skilful and acceptable leader of sacred mu- sic in the sanctuary of God. Among other honors con- ferred upon him by his fellow citizens, he was repeatedly elected into the Council of the State. In testimony of his great attainments and high standing, the Corporation of Yale College some years before his death, gave him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
In 1815, when he was first appointed judge, the Su- perior Court consisted of nine judges, a chief judge and cight associate judges, and thus remained until the adop- tion of the present constitution in 1819, though several changes occurred among the associate judges. The Court was then constituted of five judges ; Mr. Hosmer was appointed chief justice, and three of the former judges and one new judge were appointed his associates. In this elevated situation he continued until January 10th, 1833, when arriving at the age of seventy, his term ceased by a provision of the constitution. He died in Middletown, August 6th, 1834, and the following obituary notice was issued the next week, in the New England Advocate then published in this city. This is given entire, with the exception of a few sentences, con- taining facts already stated.
" The observances at his interment by the public author- ities and institutions of the place, and the citizens gen- crally, evince the universal estimation of his worth."
A particular notice of the character of those who have become distinguished for superior talents, virtues or ser- vices, affords a rational gratification to their surviving relatives and friends-is just to their memory-and cal- culated to be useful by inciting to the performance of duty.
To none is such a tribute more especially due, than to
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the subject of these remarks. The country at large, during the long course of years, which Judge Hosmer has occupied a seat upon the bench, have had a full op- portunity to observe the exhibition of that extraordinary legal learning and purity which are evinced by his repor- ted judgments and opinions; and it is not too much to say, that they have placed his name in the rank of our most distinguished and respected jurists. So far as the opinions of intelligent judicial tribunals and officers, are respected in other states than those in which they are pronounced, no judge has left higher claims than Judge Hosmer to the gratitude of those engaged in judicial pursuits or studies, out of this State. Following the ex- ample of several most illustrious judges of our country, particularly Parsons and Kent, it was not unfrequently the case that his opinion contained, not only the reasons for the judgment given in the particular case before him, but a collection of the leading cases on the subject gen- erally, and a concise and lucid epitome of the law as in- volved in them. By this means, although a great por- tion of the opinion would not, perhaps, be deemed au- thoritative, the reader was furnished with an abstract of the leading principles applicable to the subject in one connection, and at the same time, the deliberate views of an able jurist, entertained after consultation with his fel- low judges. What ever prejudice may exist in the minds of some against the expression of the opinions of Courts, on points other than those necessarily involved in the case before them, it is believed that on the whole, the benefits of that course far exceed its disadvantages. The opinions pronounced by Judge Hosmer, of this de- scription, are most full and precise, prepared with much care-expressed with great perspicuity and force-and arranged with entire method; and they constitute so
9
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many valuable clementary treatises, so to speak, for the instruction of the judge, practitioner and student.
Such are some of the benefits, which the country at large have derived from the public services of Judge Hosmer. In addition to these, his native State has be- held in him for the eighteen years in which he has been a member of her highest judicial tribunal, and of which he was the Chief Justice for fourteen years, the model of that industry, punctuality, urbanity, impartiality, dignity and patience, which, united to extensive legal acquirements and sound judgment, constitute a perfect judge. The progress of public business was never checked by his absence, nor retarded by his remissness. He accorded to all the most punctilious courtesy, and was not only willing, but anxious to listen to all that could be suggested with propriety on the subject under discussion : while he ever maintained the dignity and honor of the Court, by exacting a proper regard to its honor and rights in the intercourse between the Court and its attendants, and of the members of the bar among each other. And it was always evident, that no person- al, sinister, or calculating motive swayed his judgment.
His life was almost exclusively devoted to study. He preferred the pleasures of reading, to those of society. But his studies were by no means confined to his profes- sion. His attainments in theology, history and general literature were very extensive, as his conversation and fugitive writings evinced. And it cannot be unknown to many, that he had a fine taste, and an enthusiastic fond- ness for music.
His habits of exercise and study, were most regular and exact, for a great many of the late years of his life ; and even after his retirement from the bench, until reduc- ed and enfeebled by his last illness, he devoted daily,
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stated portions of his time to exercise and to study. Until his last illness prevented him from taking his usu- al walks, we never felt the full force of that beautiful line of Gray,
"One morn I miss'd him on th' accustom'd hill."
To his unvarying habit of morning, noon and evening exercise, he attributed the preservation of his healthi, which was never seriously, and but seldom slightly dis- ordered.
His temperament was ardent, but his disposition most friendly and forgiving. Every object of philanthropy, and every case of suffering or want, immediately excited his sympathy and aid. And among the excellent traits of his character, one of the most striking was his readmess at all times to render service, by his advice and investi- gation, to the younger members of the legal profession, who applied to him for assistance. His eager thirst for the improvement of himself and others, led him at once to examine every subject on which he was consulted, and freely to communicate the result of his thoughts and enquiries. His personal appearance was commanding, his deportment dignified, his manners affable, and his elocution polished and graceful. At the age of forty- three, he publicly united himself to the church, and adorned his religious profession by the life and conversa- tion of a christian."
Connecticut has gained celebrity from the number of literary and distinguished men, whom she has raised up and sent forth into different parts of the country, many of whom have held seats in the National Legisla- ture, and others important offices under the General Gov- ernment or in the States. In this good work Middle- town has had a share. The Hon. Josiah Meigs has been mentioned. In the same class to which he and Judge
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Miller belonged, were Ezekiel Gilbert of this town, and Ebenezer Sage of Portland. The former became a law- yer, settled in Hudson, N. Y., and was a member of Congress ; the latter became a physician, settled in Sag Harbor, L. I., was a literary and political man, and also a member of Congress. Hezekiah Lord Hosmer was a lawyer in Hudson, and succeeded Mr. Gilbert in the Na- tional Councils. In the class of 1785, at Yale College, were John Dean Dickinson, son of Dr. John Dickinson, Return Jonathan Meigs, jr., and Phineas Miller, all na- tives of this town. Mr. Dickinson settled in Troy, N. Y., and was a member of Congress. Mr. Meigs was admitted to the bar in this place, and was a lawyer in Marietta, Ohio; chief justice of the Supreme Court in that State, and also governor; a senator in Congress, and besides other honors conferred upon him by the gov- ernment of the country, post-master general of the United States .* Mr. Miller was a literary and polish- ed man, a co-partner of Eli Whitney in the cotton-gin, a judge in one of the counties of Georgia, and a member of the State Senate.
Silas Stow, a native of this town, and a lawyer here about 1795, moved to Lowville, N. Y., and was a mem- ber of Congress. He died January 19th, 1827, aged 53. At a later period, Henry Randolph Storrs moved from this place to Utica, N. Y., practiced law, and was sent a Representative to the National Legislature.
Among the distinguished natives of Portland, besides Dr. Sage, Asahel Hooker Strong, son of Rev. Dr. Strong, and Rev. Dr. Samuel Shepherd, may be men- tioned. Mr. Strong ranked among the very first scholars in his class, was a good special pleader at
* See Howe's Historieal Collections of Ohio, p. 511.
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the bar, and had he lived, would have been worthy of a seat on the bench of the Superior Court. Dr. Shepherd has recently died, and his talents, standing, influence and usefulness in the ministry are well known.
The Rev. James Brainerd Taylor, was a native of Chatham, and it may be stated in this connection, that one of the physicians of this town, though not a native of it, was some years since elected a Representative to Congress from another part of this State, the late Samuel Simons, M. D., of Bridgeport.
The younger Richard Alsop, Esq., has been incident- ally mentioned as called upon by Mr. Barlow, to exam- ine the manuscript of his Vision of Columbus. Though occasionally engaged in agricultural and commercial concerns, Mr. Alsop spent most of his days in the pur- suit of elegant literature : for which he had an unusual fondness. He was an adept in the classical literature of England, and familiar with the French, Spanish and Italian languages. His love of poetry was enthusiastic, and was abundantly gratified by reading and composi- tion. Numerous poetical pieces, published in newspa- pers and magazines, and others issued in different forms, were well received, and did honor to his genius. Other works gave him a respectable standing as a prose writer. These writings have been many years before the public, and his character is well known. They are all character. ized by purity of expression, and indicate that delicacy of thought and feeling which appeared in his private life. He died suddenly at Flatbush, L. I., on the 16th of Au- gust, 1816, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.
John Alsop, the youngest brother of Richard, practic- ed law for a short time in New London, was then for a short time a bookseller in Hartford, and afterwards for a longer period in New York. The latter part of his
*
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life was spent in Middletown, where he died in 1841. He was a literary man, and wrote various pieces of poe- try for his own gratification and not for the. public eye. The editor of the work, styled "Poets of Connecticut," observes concerning him : " The writings of the young- er Alsop, although less melodious than those of his brother, are yet characterized by so much vigor of thought and justness of taste, as to warrant the belief, that had he prepared them for publication, they would have proved fully competent to sustain undiminished the poetical honors of his name."
John G. C. Brainerd, who resided here as a lawyer, for a short time, was a universal favorite, so sweet was his temper, so correct his taste, and so interesting his conversation. His fame arose especially from his be- coming afterwards the editor of the " Connecticut Mir- ror" at Hartford, and issuing in that periodical short pieces of prose and poetry. His conversion and his profession of religion were both remarkable, and when he came to die, faith in Christ turned the shadows of death into the light of the morning.
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