USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1913 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
"In the Beginnings of New England John Fiske has given us another of those practical philosophic studies, which have placed him among the very foremost of living historical writers. Indeed, for insight, for appreciation of the continuity of human thought and de- velopment, for the true perspective, and for literary skill, and lucidity, there is no English writer of the day who can be named with him except Prof. Bryce, and while his style is not less solid than that of the author of "The Holy Roman Empire," it is more picturesque.
"In his introductory chapter, Dr. Fiske, opening the way for New England, treats of the Roman idea and the English idea in the development of government. It is a masterly chapter. We wish every congressman was compelled to read it before he takes his seat, and obliged to pass an examination upon it. We might hope then for some little comprehen- sion of the philosophy of real statesmanship."
The War of Independence, for Young People (1889); Civil Government of the United States, considered with some references to its Origins (1890); The American Revolution (2 vols. 1891, illustrated edition, 1896); The Discovery of America, with some account of Ancient America and the Spanish Conquest (2 vols. 1892); Frantz Schubert (in Millets Famous Composers, 1892); Edward Livingston You-
mans, Interpreter of Science for the People (1894); Old Virginia and her Neighbors (2 vols. 1897); The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America (2 vols. 1899); Through Nature to God (1899); and Japanese translations of The Destiny of Man and The Idea of God; Life Everlasting (1901); New France and New England (1902); Essays, Historical and Lit- erary (2 vols.); History of All Nations (3 vols. Lea Brothers, publishers, Philadelphia); Colo- nization of the New World; Independence of the New World; Modern Development of the New World.
He was equally at home in treating of lan- guage, art, natural science, music, religion, modern literature, the classics, history or phi- losophy; but it was in the two last-named fields that he chose to do the bulk of his most serious work. In philosophy he ably supple- mented the system of Herbert Spencer by opening up, while he expounded it, new vistas into a reverent theism.
It is not too much to say that he shows an insight and comprehension greater than Spen- cer's own, while his form of statement is often more felicitous.
Of the extremely important original contri- bution of John Fiske to the general theory of evolution, his own statement is to be found in his "Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy" (tenth edition, New York, 1889), ii, 159, 342, and in his "Excursions of an Evolutionist" (ninth edition, Boston, 1889) in a paper entitled "The Meaning of Infancy."
In his treatment of history he displays the same grasp, insight, and analytic power, and the same ingenuity in extending the applica- tion of the evolutionary principle.
"The government of the United States," he says, in the preface to "American Political Ideas," "is not the result of special creation, but of evolution." This sentence strikes the key-note of his historical method. In writing history, he was still the philosopher, seeking before everything else the why of the great movements and events.
His style was invariably rich, flexible, and clear,-"such a style," said the Atlantic Monthly, "as was perhaps never before brought to the illustration of the topics with which Mr. Fiske habitually deals."
198
A HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
In a letter of Charles Darwin to Dr. Fiske, bearing date December Sth, 1874, he says: "I never in my life read so lucid an expositor (and therefore thinker) as you are." Added to his profound scholarship, this gift of expres- sion was invaluable to the great leader of philosophic and historic thought in America.
Just before his death Dr. Fiske had taken passage for England, having accepted an invi- tation to represent this country at the com- memoration of the millennial of the death of King Alfred the Great, to be held at Winchester, England, and to give an address at the unveil- ing of the statue.
James W. Bright, secretary, in acknowledg- ing Dr. Fiske's acceptance, said: "I am ex- ceedingly gratified to receive your acceptance of the invitation to deliver an address at the Alfred celebration, and I can assure you that this announcement will be received with peculiar pleasure by the English committee.
"The initial construction of the programme is chiefly in my hands. I have accordingly first addressed you, as the pre-eminently qualified man to represent America in a broad historical view of the real meaning of the celebration. You may, of course, select your own theme; whatever you do select will be treated in that deeply interpretative manner for which you are so justly admired."
Intensely interested in the subject, and- appreciating the honor conferred upon him by a committee of distinguished Englishmen, happy also at the honor bestowed through him on America, and his Alma Mater, Harvard, in connection with a celebration of such mag- nitude, he was looking forward to the event with great enthusiasm, feeling, as he said, that he had "something to say."
He died suddenly in Gloucester, Mass., on the morning of July 4th, 1901.
Of his six children, Maud, Harold Brooks, Clarence, Ralph Browning, Ethel and Herbert Huxley, four only survive him.
MICHAEL E. FITZGERALD
FITZGERALD, MICHAEL E., superintendent of Cambridge schools, was born in East Abington, Mass., November 22, 1863, son of John C. and Mary D. His early education was received at the public schools of his native town, and he
was graduated from the Bridgewater Normal School in 1887. The twenty-five ensuing years have been devoted to school work. Before coming to Boston, in 1901, as sub-master in the Lawrence district, he spent four years as prin- cipal of the largest school in Spencer, Mass., and had charge of the evening school during that time; ten years as principal of the Lincoln Grammar School in South Framingham; and a short time as principal of the Wetherbee School in Lawrence; and while in Framingham, having studied law in the office of Judge Walter
MICHAEL E. FITZGERALD
Adams, was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1898. His work in Boston has included the directorship of the vacation schools. He received the appointment as master of the Christopher Gibson district in Dorchester, in 1903. On the opening of the new Oliver Wendell Holmes district in 1905, he was transferred to that district. In 1909-1910 the Franklin Park Open Air School was under his charge. He is president of the Schoolmen's Club whose mem- bership of four hundred and fifty includes all the men teachers of the Boston school system.
In 1892 Mr. Fitzgerald was married to Miss Mary E. Brassill of South Weymouth. . He has a family of seven sons.
199
BIOGRAPHIES
RUEL HASSELTINE FLETCHER
FLETCHER, RUEL HASSELTINE, sixty years a teacher (1849-1910), one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, was born in Cornish, N.H., May 16, 1829, and was brought up on a farm until his majority.
He was educated in the schools of his native town, in the Newport, N.H., High School, at Kimball Union Academy, and at the New Hampton Institute. Years later he took courses in geometry, physics and physical geography at Harvard University.
RUEL HASSELTINE FLETCHER
At the age of twenty he taught his first school in Newport, N.H. Subsequently he taught winter schools in his native town, in Hartford, Vt., Canaan, N.H., and West New- bury, Mass. He began teaching in annual schools at Abington Centre, Mass., in March, 1854, where he remained two years, resigning to accept the mastership of the Coddington School in Quincy, Mass.
In December, 1857, he was called to the mastership of the Olis Grammar School in this city. In January, 1861, for lack of accom-
modations, the school was moved into the building that it now occupies, on the corner of Thorndike and Sixth Streets. After fifty- two years of service as master of the Thorndike School, Mr. Fletcher retired, January 1, 1910, and was unanimously elected Master Emeritus by the school officials.
In February, 1863, Mr. Fletcher married Rebecca Caroline Wyman, daughter of the late William and Ruth Bradstreet Wyman, of Cambridge. Eight children were born to them two of whom died in infancy, and one, Fred- erick William, died June 22, 1909, at the age of thirty-one years. Mrs. Fletcher, his bosom companion for forty-three years, died July 10, 1906, in her seventieth year. Of the five children still living, all are graduates of the Thorndike School. Two of them, Charles Ruel and Austin Bradstreet, are graduates of Harvard; Caroline Rebecca, of Wellesley College; Edward Wyman, of the Cambridge High School; and Frank Kelley was two years in the Cambridge Manual Training School. All are well employed.
On the day of the graduation exercises of the Thorndike Grammar School, June 20, 1907, the committee met and by a unanimous rising vote passed resolutions formally expressing the es- teem of the members, and their appreciation of the patient, industrious and successful efforts of Mr. Fletcher in his career of fifty years as head principal of the school. An account of the meeting and copies of the resolutions, signed by the secretary, were sent to him. The other occasion was the day when Mr. Fletcher's resignation and that of Mr. Bradbury of the Latin School were accepted by the committee. At the meeting on that day, December 31, 1909, a resolution was adopted, which, after commenting on the work and the great influ- ence for good exercised by the two educators, concluded as follows: "The School Committee, desiring to note these remarkable careers and in some especial manner to approve and honor such lives and service, has created the office of 'Master Emeritus' and appointed William Bradbury and Ruel H. Fletcher as the first incumbents thereof. (Signed) SANFORD B. HUBBARD, Secretary of the School Committee."
200
A HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
JAMES AUGUSTUS FOX
Fox, JAMES AUGUSTUS, son of George Howe and Emily (Wyatt) Fox, was born in Boston, August 11, 1827. He traced his ancestry to prominent English and Scotch families; on the paternal side of one in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, which included the author of the celebrated "Book of Martyrs"; and on the maternal to the Scotch family of Forbes, represented in the State by Hon. John M. Forbes and Hon. Lincoln F. Brigham, Chief of the Superior Court of Massachusetts.
His academical education was attained in the public schools of Boston, after which his studies were in the line of his chosen profession, and were pursued in the law school of Harvard University and the office of the late Hon. John C. Park. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1854.
In 1848 he married Julia Elizabeth, daughter of Col. James and Julia (Sterry) Valentine, of Providence, R.I., and the granddaughter of William and Elizabeth (Borden) Valentine, of Fall River. Her grandfather was one of the original projectors of the extensive manufactur- ing enterprises of that city. She died in 1872, leaving three daughters, Henrietta, Julia and Lillian.
He continued in practice until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion in 1861, which found him as captain of the Boston City Guard in the militia of the State, and his company became the nucleus of the Thirteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. He left with his command for the front, July 29, 1861. Captain Fox served in the perilous campaigns in Vir- ginia during the remainder of that year and in 1862, receiving the warm commendation of his superior officers and the respect and love of the men of his command.
He was early a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and an active comrade of the G.A.R., and in his Memorial Day addresses on several occasions, his oratorical abilities were conspicuously mani- fest, especially in one oration, entitled "The Two Civilizations," which has been published,
and another given upon the ever memorable field of Gettysburg.
In 1864 and 1865 he was the commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, and was one of the delegation of that historic organization at the three hun- dred and fiftieth anniversary of the parent corps, the Honorable Artillery Company of London, held in London during the jubilee period of Queen Victoria, in 1887.
In civil life Mr. Fox had a somewhat extended experience, having been a member of the School Committee of Boston for three years, and a member of the Legislature in both its branches -in the House of Representatives in 1867 and 1868, and in the Senate in 1870 and 1871. While in the last-named branch he delivered a merited and eloquent eulogy upon the life and military service of Major-General George H. Thomas, then recently deceased.
After his removal to the university city of Cambridge, in 1872, he served for two years in the Aldermanic Board, and subsequently as Mayor for four consecutive terms.
He was identified as an active officer or mem- ber with several of the prominent beneficiary orders of the country, such as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, and the Knights of Pythias; in the latter named body he had been Grand Chancellor of Massachusetts, Supreme Representative to the national branch, and Judge-Advocate-General of the uniform rank, upon the staff of Com- mander-in-Chief Major-General Carnaham, of Indiana. In the world-wide institution of Free Masonry, he attained the very highest grade. Commencing with the "blue lodge " he advanced through all the series of degrees of York and Scottish rites, the chapter, cryptic masonry, the commandery (K.T.), the consistory, unto the sovereign grand inspector-generalship of the thirty-third and last degree, and in most of these he served as the president officer.
As a legislator, municipal chief-magistrate, soldier, orator, or officer of fraternal benefici- ary societies, he always discharged his varied duties with ability and faithfulness.
Mr. Fox died in September, 1901.
2,
BIOGRAPHIES
201
FRANK FOXCROFT
FOXCROFT, FRANK, was born in Boston, Mass., January 21, 1850. He was the son of George Augustus and Harriet Goodrich Foxcroft, and was educated in the public schools of Boston and of Pittsfield, Mass., and at Williams College, from which institution he graduated in 1871. His father was a news- paper writer, so that Mr. Foxcroft turned naturally to journalism, when he had completed his college course. Naturally, also, when he came to Boston, in the fall of 1871, to take an editorial position upon the Boston Journal, he established his home in Cambridge,-for he is a direct descendant of the Judges Francis Foxcroft, father and son, who, in the eighteenth century, owned and occupied the Foxcroft estate, comprising two hundred acres or more in old Cambridge, including "Norton's Woods," and whose name is perpetuated in the Foxcroft Club and the Foxcroft House. Mr. Foxcroft retained his editorial connection with the Boston Journal from 1871 to 1904, as literary editor, editorial writer, and associate editor. From 1895 to 1911 he edited a department in The Youth's Companion; since 1896 he has edited The Living Age (Littell's); and since 1905 he has also been treasurer of The Living Age Company. He published a volume of verse entitled "Transcript Pieces," in his youth; and he edited a collection of hymns and songs of the resurrection, entitled "Resurgit," in 1878. He has also contributed to various magazines and reviews, including the Atlantic Monthly, and the Nineteenth Century and the Contemporary Review, of London. Mr. Fox- croft was married in 1872, to Elizabeth True Howard, formerly of Columbus, O., who died suddenly in October, 1885. In 1888, Mr. Fox- croft was married to Lily Sherman Rice, of Danvers. Three children of the first marriage and two of the second are living. Mr. Foxcroft was a deacon in the North Avenue Congre- gational Church from 1872 to 1895; he taught a Bible class in the Sunday school of that church for more than twenty years; and for five years after the death of his first wife, in 1885, he conducted the Monday class, a week- day class of boys and girls for religious instruc- tion, comprising nearly four hundred members of all denominations, which Mrs. Foxcroft
had established in 1880. Mr. Foxcroft early identified himself with temperance activities and no-license work. He was vice-president of the Home Protection League, the organiza- tion formed in 1881 to carry on the no-license campaigns, which soon gave place to the Citi- zens' No-license committee; he was chairman of the executive committee of the Law and Order League, an organization which made itself dreaded by violators of the liquor laws from 1881 to 1886; he was for twenty years a member and for fifteen years chairman of the
FRANK FOXCROFT
Citizens' No-license committee. He was active in the organization of the Law Enforcement Association, which, in the early years of no- license, lent valuable aid to the authorities in the enforcement of no-license; and it was he who christened, and up to the time of his resig- nation from the committee, edited the no- license organ "The Frozen Truth." On his retirement from the committee, he was given a banquet in recognition of his services. Mr. Foxcroft has always been interested in public affairs. He served two years upon the Cam- bridge school committee in the seventies; and he was appointed a member of the Massachu-
202
A HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
setts Civil Service Commission by Governor Bates in 1904, was reappointed by Governor Guild in 1907, and again reappointed by Governor Draper in 1910. Mr. Foxcroft is a member of the Cambridge, Twentieth Century, Boston City, Congregational and Pudding- stone Clubs.
HENRY HAMMOND GALLISON
GALLISON, HENRY HAMMOND, the first Ameri- can artist to have a painting placed in the National Museum of Italy, was born in Boston,
HENRY HAMMOND GALLISON
Mass., May 20, 1850. He was the son of Joseph Henry and Lavinia (Hammond) Gallison. He received his early education in Boston at the public schools and at the private school of Mr. Fetto, who fitted him to enter Harvard. He graduated from the Harvard Medical School in 1871. In settling his grandfather Hammond's estate, he found it necessary to have a knowledge of law, and entered the Harvard Law School. After having been admitted to the bar in the County of Suffolk, and after having settled his grandfather's estate, he did not practise law except for a short time, when he was appointed judge in the town of Franklin. He never prac-
tised law or medicine, except to help his friends. It was the profession of art to which he was most strongly drawn, and finally he gave himself up exclusively to painting. His first studies were in the evening schools of Boston; then he watched other painters and profited by their criticisms of his work. When Tomaso Inglaris came to Boston and had charge of the drawing and painting classes that were features of the Boston Art Club, Mr. Gallison had his criti- cisms. In 1883 he went to England, Italy and Paris, where he studied with Adrian Bonne- foy. In Paris he met Marie Reuter of Lübeck, Germany, to whom he was married at Paris in 1886. She was the daughter of Dr. Franz Reuter, and studied singing in Paris under Madame Pauline Viandot-Garcia.
After Mr. Gallison returned to America he exhibited in London, Munich and Paris and in Turin. In Italy the newspapers spoke enthu- siastically about the simplicity of his subjects, his broad masses and his glorious colors. The first time he exhibited in Italy his picture created a sensation, and the King of Italy wished to meet his teacher, Cavalier Tomaso Inglaris. In London and Paris his pictures received dis- tinction by honorable mention. In St. Louis he received a medal.
The Italian government in 1903 purchased one of his pictures, entitled "Rising Mists," for the National Museum. This was an unusual distinction, as it was the first picture by an American artist which the Italian government had purchased.
The greatest monument to the genius of Mr. Gallison in this country is the Ray Memorial at Franklin, Mass. It is a civic building, in- cluding a library, lecture hall, reading-room and other conveniences. The decorations which Mr. Gallison painted for the memorial were of a landscape character, ideal and poetic. He was given charge to plan and execute the building, and everything was carried out under his direc- tions. He put a great deal of time, thought, energy and love into his work, and the Ray family seconded him in the work by providing the funds. It cost about one million dollars, and is a memorial such as few towns in the country possess, and it is a monument not only to the Ray family, but also to the genius of Mr. Gallison.
EDWIN GINN
.
203
BIOGRAPHIES
Mr. Gallison's pictures have been exhibited in all the prominent art exhibitions of the country. His work has a nice distinction of freshness in color and a very suggestive poetic quality. He had a rare sympathy for the larger aspects of nature for broad stretches of land- scape in storm or sunshine, in the mists of early morning, or the purple mystery of sunset and twilight. He was delicately sensitive to atmos- pheric qualities in nature-to great cloud shadows that drifted over the face of the land- scape; to the bursts of sunlight that gilded mountain, foliage and fields; to the gray subtle- ties of the mist and the palpitating warmth of midsummer sunshine on water and land. Na- ture spoke to him in terms of color, and there were few artists who could as adequately express the rich greens of spring and summer as Mr. Gallison. He seemed to revel in greens-greens that were fresh and juicy and full of life. But he also used purples and blues with these greens, and he was especially successful in expressing topography in his blue and purple distances. He saw pictures in light and color and atmos- phere; and some of those he painted down at Annisquam, and in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, seem as if they were painted by an inspired brush.
He had a studio at Annisquam, where in the last years of his life he painted from late spring until early fall, when he returned to his studio in the Grundmann Studio on Clarendon Street over Copley Hall, in Boston. He was one of the most active members of the Boston Art Club and also of the St. Botolph Club. Many of the prominent galleries of the country have purchased his pictures.
He died October 12, 1910, at his home on Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass., being sur- vived by his wife.
EDWIN GINN
GINN, EDWIN, was born in Orland, Me., February 14, 1838. His father, James Ginn, farmer and lumberman, was a man of remark- ably good judgment; he often acted as arbi- trator and referee in cases of dispute, and had great influence in the community in which he lived. His ancestors came from England, and were among the early settlers of Maryland
and Virginia. His mother, Sarah Blood, daughter of Daniel and Esther (Rideout) Blood, was descended from Puritan stock, and through John Putnam, brother of Israel Putnam, claimed descent from John and Priscilla (Gould) Putnam, emigrants from England about 1630- 34, settling in Salem.
Edwin, although a rather delicate boy, was bent on obtaining an education. As a child his advantages in this direction were very limited, as his home in the country was far removed from good school privileges. His ambition to obtain an education he inherited largely from his mother, his keen business insight from his father. His early childhood was passed on the farm-where the customary chores were a part of his daily duties-in a logging camp, and on a fishing schooner to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. In the winter he attended the district school.
At the age of sixteen his father gave him his time and fifty dollars with which to gain an education. He then began to attend the country high school, but as the teacher could not instruct him in Latin he entered the Semi- nary at Bucksport, two miles and a half from his home, walking to and from school each day. Later he went to Westbrook Seminary, where he finished his preparation for college. He graduated from Tufts in 1862, and later received the degree A.M. In 1902 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Litt.D. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa college fraternity, and of the Twentieth Century Club.
While in college his eyes failed him and his health broke down. The professors urged him to drop out for a year, but he objected, saying that if he left his class he should never return. His classmates lent a helping hand by reading his lessons to him and he succeeded in graduating even above the middle of his class.
Mr. Ginn had hoped to devote himself to purely literary work, but physically handi- capped as he was, he abandoned this purpose and determined to enter the publishing busi- ness. In coming to this decision he was actuated largely by a desire to influence the world for good, by putting the best books into the hands of school children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.