APPLETONS'
CYCLOPÆDIA OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
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ABBETT, Leon, jurist, b. in Philadplphia. Pa., 8 Oct., 1836; d. in Jersey City, N. J., 4 Dec., 1894. He studied law, and settled in Philadelphia, but subsequently removed to New York city and entered into partnership with William J. A. Fuller. He settled in Hoboken, N.J., in 1862, and served in the New Jersey legislature in 1865–'6 and 1869–'70, being twice speaker. He was chairman of the Democratic state convention in 1868, president of the state board of education in 1869, a member of the state senate in 1875–'7 and president of the senate in 1877. He was governor of New Jersey in 1884–'6 and 1890–'2, and was chairman of the state delegation to the national Democratic conventions oin 1872, 1876 and 1880, and in 1888–'9 he was a candidate for the U.S. senate. For many years Abbett and the late Senator McPherson were the leaders of the opposing Democratic factions of New Jersey. He was appointed a justice of the supreme court, 8 March, 1893. Princeton conferred on him the degree of L.L.D.
ABBOTT, Emma, singer, b. in Chicago, Ill., in 1850; d. in Salt Lake City, Utah, 5 Jan., 1891. She was taught her profession by her father, a music teacher of Peoria. Her first engagement was as a singer in Dr. Chapin's church, New York, the congregation of which presented her with a purse of $10,000 with which to complete her musical education in Europe. In 1872 she went abroad and studied singing, making her first appearance in London in "The Daughter of the Regiment." Beginning with her second musical season her success was unbroken, appearing before crowded houses in Europe and America up to the time of her fatal illness. She survived her husband, Edwin Wetherell, two years, leaving a large estate, which was nearly evenly divided between her family and various charities.
ABBOTT, Josiah Gardner, lawyer, b. in Chelmsford, Mass., 1 Nov. 1815; d. in Wellesley Hills, Mass., 2 June. 1891. He was prepared for college by Ralph Waldo Emmerson, was graduated at Harvard in 1832, and admitted to the bar in 1835. Mr. Abbott served in the legislature in 1836–'7, became state senator in 1841, and from 1864 until 1888 was a delegate-at-large to every national Democratic convention. He was a judge of Suffolk county, Mass., in 1855–'8; removed to Boston, where he resumed his profession, and in 1874 was a Democratic candidate for congress. After successfully contesting the election of his opponent, he served from 28 July, 1876, till 8 March, 1877, but declined renomination, and resumed practice. In 1876 he was a member of the electoral commission. In 1875 and 1877 Judge Abbott was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the U.S. senate, and in 1878 was the candidate for governor Massachusetts. Williams gave him the degree of L.L.D. in 1863.
ABELL, Josiah Gardner, journalist, b. in East Providence, R.I., 10 Aug., 1806; d. in Baltimore, Md., 19 April, 1888. He adopted the printer's trade in early youth, became foreman of a large establishment in Boston, and in 1836 removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was a founder and proprietor of the "Public Ledger," his connection with that paper continuing till 1864, when he sold his interest to George W. Childs. Mr. Abell began the publication of the Baltimore "Sun" on 17 May, 1837, continuing its sole proprietor until the year before his death. The publication of the "Sun" was established just before the introduction of the electric telegraph, and Mr. Abell was personally associated with Samuel F. B. Morse in its promotion. The "Sun" published the first message sent over the wires between Washington and Baltimore, and also the first presidential message ever received in that way.
ABERDEEN, Sir John Campbell Hamilton Gordon, seventh earl of, governor-general of Canada, b. in Edinburgh, Scotland, 3 Aug., 1847. He was educated at Oxford, where he received his B. A. in 1871, and an M. A. in 1877. While at University he succeeded to the title of seventh earl, owing to the death of his eldest brother, whose career as a seaman before the mast is well known. The unfortunate and eccentric nobleman was serving on the American ship "Hero," on a voyage from Boston to Melbourne, when he was accidentally
