Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/63

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LOWELL
LOWELL

the degree of D. D. in 1823. He was a fellow of its corporation from 1818 till 1833, and a member of literary societies in this country and abroad. He contributed largely to periodical literature and published many separate discourses, a volume of “Occasional Sermons,” and one of “Practical Sermons” (Boston, 1855); “Meditations for the Afflicted, Sick, and Dying”; and “Devotional Exercises for Communicants.” The “Proceedings” of a parish meeting that was held in his memory were published (1861). He married Harriet, daughter of Robert T. Spence, of Portsmouth, N. H., an officer in the U. S. navy. — Francis Cabot's son, John, philanthropist, b. in Boston, 11 May, 1799; d. in Bombay, India, 4 March, 1836, studied in the high-school of Edinburgh, Scotland, and entered Harvard in 1813, but left in 1815 on account of impaired health, and in 1816-'17 made two voyages to India. He then engaged in commerce for a few years; but in 1830-'1 his wife and his two daughters, his only children, died within a few months, and the remainder of his life was spent in travel in the United States, Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, Arabia, and Hindostan. Mr. Lowell was a fine scholar and possessed a valuable private library. He bequeathed $250,000 for the maintenance in Boston of annual courses of free public lectures on religion, science, and the arts. This establishment, the Lowell institute, went into operation in the winter of 1839-'40, and has been continued since that time with eminent success. Mr. Lowell's will was made while he was in Egypt, at the ruins of Thebes, and Edward Everett said of it, in an introduction to the first course of institute lectures, 31 Dec., 1839: “The few sentences, penned with a tired hand by our fellow-citizen on the top of a palace of the Pharaohs, will do more for human improvement than, for aught that appears, was done by all of that gloomy dynasty that ever reigned.” See “Memoir of John Lowell, Jr.,” by Edward Everett (Boston, 1840). — Charles's son, Robert Traill Spence, clergyman, b. in Boston, Mass., 8 Oct., 1816, d. in Schenectady, N. Y., 12 Sept., 1891, was at Round Hill school, under Dr. Cogswell and George Bancroft, and was graduated at Harvard in 1833. He then took a full course at Harvard medical school, and engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time. In 1839 he began the study of theology under advice of Dr. Alonzo Potter (afterward bishop of Pennsylvania), and prepared for orders. He was invited by Bishop Spencer, of Newfoundland, to go to Bermuda, where he was made deacon in December, 1842, and priest in March, 1843, and was also appointed domestic chaplain to the bishop and inspector of schools in the colony. He went to Newfoundland in 1843, and was appointed to the charge of Bay Roberts (“Peterport” in his novel, “The New Priest”). While he was occupied in duty here, a severe famine came upon the people (1846), during which Mr. Lowell's medical training proved to be especially serviceable. He was chairman of the relief committee of the district, and earned the thanks and gratitude of the government and people. His health and strength gave way, and he found it necessary to return to the United States in 1847. He next began mission work among the poorer people in Newark, N. J., gathered a congregation called Christ church, and built a stone church in 1849-'50, which was open and free to all, with daily services. In 1859 he accepted a call to Christ church, Duanesburg, N. Y., which post he held for ten years. Thence he went to Southborough, Mass., where for four years he was head master of St. Mark's school. In 1873 he became professor of the Latin language and litera- ture in Union college, Schenectady, N. Y., and discharged the duties of that department for six years. Dr. Lowell's publications are “The New Priest in Conception Bay” (Boston, 1858; new ed., illustrated by F. O. C. Darley, 1863); “Fresh Hearts that failed Three Thousand Years Ago, and other Poems” (1860); “Antony Brade, a Story of School-Boy Life” (1874); “Burgoyne's March,” the poem at the Saratoga county centennial celebration at Bemis Heights (1877); and “A Story or Two from a Dutch Town” (1878). He has also been during a large part of his life a frequent contributor in both verse and prose to reviews, magazines, and literary journals. One of his most striking productions, “A Raft that no Man Made,” is an imaginative story, which a year or two after its publication was almost exactly paralleled by the actual experience of a portion of the crew of the “Polaris.” (See Hall, Charles Francis.) — Anna Cabot, author, b. in Boston, Mass., in 1819; d. in Cambridge, Mass., 7 Jan., 1874, was the wife of Charles Russell, another son of Charles. Her maiden-name was Jackson. She published “Theory of Teaching” (Boston, 1841); “Edward's First Lessons in Grammar” (1843); “Gleanings from the Poets, for Home and School” (1843); “Edward's First Lessons in Geometry” (1844); “Olympic Games” (1845); “Outlines of Astronomy, or the World as it Appears” (1850); “Letters to Madame Pulksky, by an American Lady” (1852); “Thoughts on the Education of Girls” (1853); “Seed-Grain for Thought and Discussion” (1856); and “Posies for Children, a Book of Verses” (1870). — Her son, Charles Russell, soldier, b. in Boston, 2 Jan., 1835; d. near Middletown, Va., 20 Oct., 1864, was graduated at Harvard in 1854, with the first honors, and after several years of European travel was employed for some time in steel and iron works, and on the Burlington and Missouri River railroad. In the spring of 1861, while superintending iron-works in Cumberland valley, Md., he offered his services to the government, and on 3 Aug. he was commissioned captain in the 6th cavalry. He served on Gen. McClellan's staff till November, 1862, when he organized the 2d Massachusetts infantry, and on 10 May, 1863, was made its colonel. He commanded a brigade of cavalry in Virginia, was actively engaged in the pursuit of Mosby's guerillas, and afterward under Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and was made brigadier-general of volunteers, to date from 19 Oct., 1864, on recommendation of Gen. Sheridan, for his services in the latter campaign. In his three years of service twelve horses had been shot under him, yet he escaped without injury till the battle of Cedar Creek, where he was wounded while in the advance of Gen. Getty's division, but refused to leave his command. In the moment of victory he received additional wounds, which caused his death on the following day. — His wife, Josephine Shaw, philanthropist, b. in West Roxbury, Mass., 16 Dec., 1843, is a daughter of Francis George Shaw. She was educated in schools in Europe, Boston, and New York city, and travelled in central Europe, Italy, and Great Britain from 1851 until 1855. She was married on Staten island in October, 1863. From 1876 until the present time (1887) Mrs. Lowell has officiated as one of the three commissioners of the State board of charities of New York. She is also one of the council of the Charity organization society of New York city, and favorably known for her efficiency in the cause of public charities, and for her private benevolence and untiring efforts to elevate the condition of the needy and deserving. Besides numerous reports and several pam-