History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 57

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 57

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In 1818 the friends of Rev. Nathaniel Fisher pub- lished a posthumous volume of his sermons preached at St. Peter's Church, which were considered of a high order. He was born in Dedham in 1742, and died in Salem in 1812.

In the same year (1818) Benjamin Lynde Oliver, a gentleman of great ability and attainments, published his first volume, entitled "Hints on the Pursuit of Happiness." He followed this with "The Rights of an American Citizen," 1832; "Law Summary," 1833; "Practical Conveyancing," 1838; "Forms of Prac- tice," 1841; "Forms in Chancery, Admiralty and Common Law," 1842. Mr. Oliver was distinguished for his brilliancy in conversation and his high social quali-

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ties. Ile was a most skillful chess-player, and was considered an authority in that intricate game. He was born in 1788, and died in 1843. He was a son of Rev. Thomas Fitch Oliver, an Episcopal minister, who published an interesting discourse on Masonry in 1784. He was also a nephew of Dr. B. Lyude Oliver, who died in Salem in 1835, aged seventy-five, and who published many medical treatises.

In 1824 the Rev. Josiah Willard Gibbs, who was the son of Henry and Mercy ( Prescott) Gibbs, and born in Salem in 1784, commenced the publication of his philological works, consisting of "A Hebrew and English Lexicon to the Old Testament, including the Biblical Chaldee from the works of Prof. W. Gese- nins ; " an edition of the above for schools, in 1828; " Philological Studies " with English illustrations, 1857 ; and "A New Latin Analyst," 1859. Professor Gibbs was a long time professor of sacred literature in Yale College. He was a profound scholar ; his works were republished in London, and were favora- bly noticed by the most accomplished linguists.

While yet a junior in Dartmouth College, Charles Dexter Cleveland commenced his literary career. He was born in Salem December 3, 1802; was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1827, and in 1830 was elected professor of Latin and Greek in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He entered upon the work of authorship in 1826, at which time he published "The Moral Characters of Theophrastus," with a translation and critical notes. This he followed with "An Epitome of Greek Antiquities," 1827; "First Lesson in Latin on a New Plan," 1827; "The Na- tional Orator," 1827; Xenophon's "Anabasis," with English notes, 1830; "A Compendium of Greek An- tiquities," 1831; "First Lessons in Greek," 1832; "Sequel to First Lessons in Latin," 1834; an edition of Adams' "Latin Grammar," 1836 ; "An Address of the Liberty Party of Pennsylvania to the People of the State," 1844; " First Latin Book," and " Second Latin Book," 1845; " Third Latin Book," 1848; "A Compendium of English Literature," 1848 ; "Hymns for Schools," 1850; " English Literature of the Nine- teenth Century," 1851; an edition of Milton's " Poet- ical Works," 1853 ; "A Compendium of English Literature," 1858. His Latin series have always been highly esteemed by scholars ; and his edition of Milton is most satisfactory, both to the scholar and the general reader. His devotion to ancient and modern literature has given his country a noble movement in American scholarship ; and it has been said of his work that "good taste, fine scholarship, familiar acquaintance with English literature, un- wearied industry, tact acquired by practice, an inter- est in the culture of the young, a regard for truth, purity, philanthropy, religion, as the highest attain- ment and highest beauty-all these were needed, and they are all nnited in Mr. Cleveland."

The Rev. Samuel Melancthon Worcester began his work as an author in 1826. He was a son of the Rev.

Samnel Worcester, to whom allusion has been made; was born in 1801 ; was graduated at Harvard in 1822; was for many years tutor and professor in Amherst College, and was settled over the Tabernacle Church, in Salem, in 1834. He was recording secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, from 1847 to 1866. In 1826 he published "Essays on Slavery," by Vigorinus; in 1854 "A Me- morial of the Tabernacle Church ;" many sermons and discourses; and many articles in reviews and periodicals. Ile represented Salem in the Massachu- setts Legislature in 1866. Dr. Worcester had great industry and a strong mind controlled by sincerity and honesty of purpose. He resembled his father in the sturdy vigor of his style and in the purity of his purpose. He resigned his pastorate in 1859, hut not until he had strengthened the work his father con- solidated, and had seen his people collected in the new church edifice which they erected in 1854.

The Rev. Joseph B. Felt has intimately connected his name with the history of Salem, by his faithful and accurate annals of the place. He was born in Salem in 1789, was graduated at Dartmouth in 1813, and soon became the acknowledged historian of many localities in Essex County. He published histories of Ipswich, Essex, Hamilton and Salem, in all of which he displayed great patience of research and great capacity for arrangement and selection. He also published "Collections from the American Statis- tical Associations on Towns, Population and Taxa- tion " in 1847, and a " Memoir of Roger Conant " in 1848. He is highly esteemed as a reliable annalist, and an honest and capable searcher after truth ; and he is accepted as anthority on all matters which he has investigated and recorded. He ranks among the most faithful of historians.

The work of social reform has at times occupied most absorbing attention in Salem, and has been sup- ported by some of her ablest and most conspicuous citizens. Among the most remarkable of her re- formers was the Rev. George B. Cheever, who, while pastor of the Howard Street Church, exerted himself most vigorously and conscientiously in behalf of human freedom and temperance. He was born in Hallowell, Me., in 1807; was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1825, and not long after was settled in Salem as pastor of the "Branch Church." His fear- less hostility to the traffic in and the use of ardent spirits led him into the most violent contest, in which he maintained his position with great courage and persistency, and in an attitude far in advance of his times. While here he published "Inquire at Deacon Giles' Distillery," a work which produced a stirring social commotion in the town, but won for him the reputation of an ardent and brave reformer. He afterwards settled in New York as pastor of the Allen Street Church, 1845; and as pastor of the Church of the Puritans in New York, in 1846. He published "The American Common-Place Book of Prose,"

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1828, and of "Poetry," 1829; "Studies in Poetry," 1830; " Lectures on Hierarchical Despotism " and "Lectures on Pilgrim's Progress," 1843; "Wander- ings of a Pilgrim in the Shadow of Mont Blanc," 1846; "The Hill of Difficulty," 1849; " The Voice of Nature to her Foster-child," "The Soul of Man," 1852; "A Reel in the Bottle for Jacob in the Dol- drums," 1852; "Journal of the Pilgrims at Plym- outh," 1848; "Punishment by Death: its Author- ity and Expediency," 1849; " Windings of the River of the Water of Life," 1849; " Powers of the World to Come," 1853; "Lectures on Cowper," 1856; "God against Slavery," 1857.

These works indicate the tendency of Dr. Cheever's mind; they also indicate his great power and versa- tility. He has made a mark in his time which will never be obliterated, and he has done much to direct the public mind in the paths of morality, rectitude and virtue.

At the time when Dr. Cheever commenced his ca- reer in Salem the Rev. Charles W. Upham had just entered upon his pastorate in the (First) Congrega- tional Church as colleague of Dr. Prince. Mr. Up- ham was born in St. John, New Brunswick, 1802; was graduated at Harvard, 1821, and settled in Salem in 1824. For twenty years he was minister of this parish, at the end of which time he resigned, and pursued diligently his work as public official and au- thor. He was a member of the Thirty-third Congress; Representative to the General Court in 1849, '59, and '60 ; State Senator in 1850, '57 and '58, and one year presiding officer of that body. He was mayor of the city in 1852.

Mr. Upham became an author at an early period of his career. He published, in 1828, "Letters on the Logos." This was followed by "Principles of Congre- gationalism," 1829; "Lectures on Witchcraft," 1835 ; "Salem Witchcraft, with an account of Salem Village," 1867; "Discourse on the Funeral of Rev. John Prince," 1836; "Life, Explorations and Services of John Charles Fremont," 1856; "Life of Sir Henry Vane," 1836; "Life of John Quincy Adams," 1839; oration, July 4, 1844; oration before the New England Society, N. Y., 1846; "Life of Washington," 1852; and the last three vol- umes of the "Life of Timothy Pickering," a work commenced by Octavius Pickering, a son of Timothy Pickering, a graduate of Harvard in 1810, and for many years reporter of the Supreme Court of Massa- chusetts.

Mr. Upham was a graceful and forcible writer. His sermons, while a preacher, were extremely attractive to old and young, and were filled with a warm Chris- tian spirit. In his work as a public servant he set an example of honest conviction and a fearless dis- charge of duty. His contributions to the history of his country were most valuable. The " Lite of Sir Henry Vane" which he contributed to Sparks' "Ameri- can Biography" has always been accepted as one of the most brilliant works of the kind in the English lan-

guage. His "History of Witchcraft" is elaborate, graphic and exhaustive ; and his share of the "Life of Timothy Pickering" is a charming record of the great work of that remarkable man. Mr. Upham, at his death, left a circle of warm and devoted friends, and an honorable record in the community in which he spent so many long and laborious years of his life.

In 1800 William Biglow, or, as he sometimes sub- scribed his name, Gulielmus Magnushumilis, was engaged as a teacher in Salem. He was born in Natick in 1773, was graduated at Harvard in 1794, and died in 1844. He was the author of the " His- tory of the Town of Natick from 1650;" and of the town of Sherborne from its incorporation to the end of the year 1830. He contributed a Latin poem on the occasion of the second centennial of Harvard, in 1836. He published "Elements of Latin Grammar," 1811; "Education," a poem, Salem, 1799; "Phi Beta Kappa," poem, 1811; " Poem on Intemper- ance," Cambridge, 1834; "Recommencement, or Commencement Again," Boston, 1811 ; several school books. He married a daughter of Peter Lander, of Salem. He was a scholar of extensive reading, and was well known to numerous acquaintances as a so- cial companion of original wit and fancy, and pos- sessing a fund of anecdote, which he would commu- nicate with facility in prose and rhyme.

The Hon. Joseph G. Sprague delivered a eulogy on Adams and Jefferson in 1826, and published many political and biographical essays. Lieutenant John White, U. S. N., published "Voyage to the China Seas," 1826.

Dr. R. D. Mussey practised medicine in Salem at this period, and earlier for several years. He was en- gaged in lecturing on chemistry in 1816, and removed to accept a professorship at Dartmouth College, and afterwards at Cincinnati. He published many medi- cal essays and an elaborate treatise on tobacco. He married a daughter of Dr. Joseph Osgood, of Salem.

Dr. Daniel Oliver was engaged with Dr. Mussey in popular scientific lectures in Salem. He resided here for many years, and was afterwards professor of the theory and practice of medicine at Dartmouth Col- lege. He published "First Lines in Physiology," in 1835.

It was in this period of the literary history of Salem that Nathaniel Hawthorne commenced his inspired work. Born in Salem July 4, 1804, he led a quiet and secluded life for thirty years, passing shyly through the schools of the town and inconspicuously through Bowdoin College, where he was graduated in 1825. His first appearance as an author was in The Token and The Democratic Review, where he published anonymously a series of tales so attractive that the most brilliant minds of the country commenced a dili- gent search for the author, who was supposed for a long time to be a female of great delicacy of fancy and keen knowledge of human nature. In 1837, however, he collected these productions into a volume entitled

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" Twice-Told Tales," and the position of Hawthorne in the world of letters was at once recognized. The book received a most flattering review by Longfellow, a warm and cordial reception by Miss Mitford and a most enthusiastic welcome from all that class of re- fined and æsthetic students who were gathering round Emerson, George Ripley, Margaret Fuller, Theodore Parker and their charming and critical as- sociates. On the other hand, the hard students re- joiced in his appearance. From this time until his death, in 1864, a period of less than thirty years, he held various official positions conferred upon him for his merit as an author; and he sent forth that collec- tion of romances which have given him an immortal- ity in the world of letters and have elevated the po- sition of the American mind to the rank accorded to genius in all ages and among all nations. "The Scar- let Letter," "The House of the Seven Gables," " Blithedale Romance," " Mosses from an Old Manse," "Grandfather's Chair," "The Wonder Book," "Tanglewood Tales," "The Marble Faun," "Our Old Home," "English Note-Book," " American Note- Book " all came out in rapid succession, and now oc- cupy the dearest corner in every well-appointed li- brary, at home and abroad.

By his many reviewers Hawthorne has been com- pared with nearly all the great writers of fiction, whose works have been accepted as beyond mere fig- ments of the fancy. That he surpassed them all in his comprehension of the motives of the human heart there can be no doubt. It was a supernatural ele- ment in him which gave him his high distinction. When he entered upon his work as a writer he left his personality entirely behind him. In this work he allowed no interference, he asked for no aid. He was shy of those whose intellectual power and literary fame might seem to give them a right to enter his sanctuary. In an assembly of illustrious authors and thinkers he floated reserved and silent around the margin of the room and at last vanished into outer darkness. The working of his mind was so sacred and mysterious to him that he was impatient of any attempt at familiarity or even intimacy with the di- vine power within him. His love of personal soli- tude was his ruling passion ; his intellectual solitude was an overpowering necessity. And so in great loneliness he toiled, conscious that no human power could guide him, and that human sympathy was of no avail. He appeared to understand his own great- ness so imperfectly that he dared not expose the mys- tery to others; and the sacredness of his genins was like the sacredness of his love. That this sentiment, so natural and admirable, made him somewhat unjust to his literary associates there can be but little doubt. For while he applied to them the powerful test of his own genins, before whose blaze many of them withered, his retiring disposition kept him at a dis- tance almost fatal to any estimate of their true pro- portions. And even when he admired and respected

the authors among whom he moved, and was proud of the companionship into which his genius had ele- vated him, he never overcame his natural sensi- tiveness with regard to the demand they might make on him as a fellow-artist, to open his creations to their vision and with regard to the test they might apply to him. For his sturdy manhood he sought intimates and companions, -- not many, but enough to satisfy his natural longing for a fellow ; for his genius he neither sought nor desired nor expected to find companionship. For his old official friends he had a tender affection ; for the strong and practical young men with whom he set forth in life he had an abid- ing love and attachment; they satisfied the longings of one side at least of his existence. For the throne on which he sat in the imperial realm of his own creative thought he desired no associate; his seat there was for himself alone; his reign there was su- preme. And when he retired to that lonely room which he had set apart at the height of the tower which overtopped his humble abode in Concord, and with- out book or picture, alone with a solitary seat and desk, having none to commune with except nature, which stood before his windows to cheer his heart, and he entered upon his work, his creation moved steadily and majestically, as when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

At the foundation of Hawthorne's genius lay those strong and sturdy characteristics which he had in- herited from a long line of agricultural and maritime ancestors. And these characteristics he never sur- rendered. He found for them a sympathetic feeling in the few companions whom he met in the ordinary service of his life. They were genuine as nature had made them-neither tasteless nor artificial nor cor- rupt. And in their association his mind found the repose which all nature requires. But this was hy no means his life; and let those who assume that his companions led him into bad practices, even were they so inclined, remember that he found his eternal rest with some of the sweetest and purest spirits of his time. Let those who flippantly accuse him of dissi- pation and vulgarity remember that he found his home among the noblest characters in the community in which he lived, and let their regard and love for him attest his nobility and purity. They say he was pure and chaste and honorable-and their testimony is enough. He had no fondness whatever for social pleasures, good or bad, and never entered into them, nor did he establish between himself and his fellow- men the superficial intimacy upon which society rests. But his instinct led him into the companionship of the refined and gentle, whose life was made beautiful by the constant presence of poetry and art and the highest intellectual culture. Salem, in Hawthorne's day, was filled with brilliant and beautiful women ; and they worshipped at a distance this mysterious divinity, whose delicate fancies charmed their hearts, and whose glowing eye and sturdy form, and dome-

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like head crowned with a luxuriant "pomp of hair," and fair and noble face, made up in him the type of imperial manhood. The doors of the most delightful society were open to him. But he selected from a secluded nook a modest flower, gave her his heart and united with her in exploring the beauties of art and letters, and in building up a home of great simplicity and love. Hawthorne knew many ideal homes in his day, but none more beautiful than his own, which was always in accord with the delicacy of his taste and feeling, and on entering which he was obliged to leave no unworthy qualities, no discordant habits behind. No act of his life and no association had un- fitted him for such companionship as he found there. He embodied in all his relations with life the finest of those characteristics which have made his native place the home of strong and versatile powers, and of faculties which have produced a deep impression upon the world.

Julian Hawthorne, a son of Nathaniel and Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, was born in Boston in 1846, but passed much of his childhood in Salem while his father was surveyor of that port. He has devoted himself entirely to literature, and has displayed most remarkable faculties in the creation of fiction and the delineation of romance. It is easy to trace the re- semblance between his own mind and that of his father, and easy also to distinguish the difference. At an early age he has secured a foremost place among the authors of the country, and has added much to the literary wealth of his times. To powers like his the future is full of bright promise.

The Rev. Thomas W. Coit. who was connected with Saint Peter's Church until 1826, was born in 1803; was graduated at Yale in 1821 was ordained, July 16, 1826, resigned March 23, 1829. He was a schoiar of good capacity and attainments, was professor of Trinity College, and president of Transylvania University. He published "The Theological Common-Place Book " in 1832; " Remarks on Norton's Statement of Reasons," 1833; "The Bible" in paragraphs and par- allelisms, 1834; "Townsend's Chronological Bible," 1837 ; "Puritanism, or a Churchman's Defense against its Aspersions," 1811.

Elizabeth Palmer Peabody has devoted a long life to a most valuable literary labor. She was born in 1801, and spent her early years in Salem with her sisters, who became the wives of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Horace Mann. She commenced her literary work early in life, publishing " Records of a School," "Spiritual Culture," " Dick Harbinger, the Pioneer," " The Present." " Introduction to Grammar," " First Steps to History," 1833; "Key to the History of the Hebrews," 1833; "Key to Grecian History," 1833; "Chronological History of the United States," 1856; "Memorial of Dr. William Wesselhoeft," 1859; " Translation of De Gerando's Moral Self-Education," 1859; "Bem's System of Chronology," 1852; "The ÆEsthetic Papers," 1849 ; " Essay on Language," 1857 ;

and many papers in the Christian Examiner and Journal of Education. She has engaged most zeal- ously in many reforms and has always combined great humanity and kindness with careful scholar- ship. She was an early disciple of Dr. Channing, and she cultivated most intimate relations with Washing- ton Allston, Emerson and the leaders of what is now known as the Concord School of Philosophy. Her last publication, "An Evening with Allston, and Other Essays," is a most graceful and profound pro- duction. She is now eighty-three years of age and retains all her vigor of thought and power of expres- sion. Her sister, Mrs. Hawthorne, has published a charming volume of letters, and her sister, Mrs. Maun, has written an admirable "Life of Hon. Horace Mann," and has published a valuable edition of his works.

The talent and accomplishments of these three wo- men deserve a more elaborate notice than can be given here. They were daughters of Dr. Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Palmer) Peabody, who resided a long time in Salem and elsewhere in Essex County. Mrs. Peabody was the daughter of General Joseph Pearce Palmer, a patriotic officer in the Revolutionary army, and was one of a remarkable family. Her sister Catherine was the mother of George P. Putnam, the distinguished publisher and liberal patron of letters. Her sister Mary married Royall Tyler, chief justice of Vermont, poet and essayist, and was the mother of learned clergymen and college professors; and her sister Sophia married Dr. Thomas Pickman, of Salem, an able and beloved physician of the town. The daughters of Dr. Peabody inherited the talent of their mother's family, and they have made many contribu- tions to the literature and art of the country. Their associates and companions were among the most learned men and women of their time, by whom they were held in great affection. The last survivor, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, even in her old age, oc- cupies her mind with all objects of philanthropy and charity, and enjoys the profound respect and esteem of all who know her, and of all who remember her constant labors in the cause of good learning and ed- ucation.

One of the most diligent and studious of Salem au- thors was Jonathan Cogswell Perkins, lawyer and jurist, and so learned and accurate an annotator of the nu- merous law books he published that he has been placed by the best authorities "by the side of Story and Met- calf." He was born in Chebacco Parish, Ipswich (now Essex), in 1809, was graduated at Amherst in 1832, studied law with Rufus Choate and at the Cambridge Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1835. In 1848 he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Massachusetts, " and proved himself to be a learned and able, as well as a just and upright judge." He published nine volumes of the second edition of "Pickering's Massachusetts Reports," 1835-41; "Chit- ty's Criminal Law," 1847 ; " Chitty on Contracts, with

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Valuable Annotations," seven editions from 1839 to 1859 ; "Jarman on Wills," 1849; "Abbot on Ship- ping," 1854; " Daniell's Chancery Practice," 1851 ; "Collyer on Partnership," 1850; "Chitty on Bills and Notes," 1854; " Arnould on Insurance," 1859; "Sugden's Law of Vendors and Purchasers of Real Estate," 1851; " Angell on Water-Courses," 1869; " United States Digest," 1840; "Chitty on Pleadings in Civil Actions," six editions from 1844 to 1866; " Brown's Chancery Reports," 1844; "Vesey, Jr., Chancery Reports," 1844-45. After a busy and la- borious life, of great value to the profession of law, Judge Perkins died Dec. 12, 1877.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 57

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538