The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bangs, John Kendrick

BANGS, John Kendrick, author, was born in Yonkers, N. Y., May 27. 1862; son of Francis Nehemiah and Amelia Frances (Bull) Bangs; grandson of Nathan Bangs, D. D., and a descendant of Edward Bangs, who came from England on the Anne, landing at Plymouth, Mass., in July, 1623. He was graduated from the school of political science, Columbia college, in 1883, and studied law, 1883-'84. He began his literary career as a contributor to Life in 1883, was associate editor of that paper, 1884-'88, and in 1888 became editor of the humorous department of the periodicals published by Harper & Brothers. He became editor of the Drawer in 1888, of Literary Notes in July, 1898; of Literature in January, 1899, and editor of Harper's Weekly in December, 1899. He was Democratic candidate for mayor of Yonkers, N. Y., in 1894; was made president of the Halstead school, Yonkers, N. Y., in 1896, and was vice-president of the Yonkers board of education in 1897. He is the author of: "Roger Camerden" (1887); "New Waggings of Old Tales" (1887); "The Lorgnette" (1887); "Katherine" (1888); "Mephistopheles "(1889); "Tiddledy winks Tales" (1891); "The Tiddledy-winks Poetry Book" (1892); "In Camp with a Tin Soldier" (1892); "Half Hours with Jimmie-boy" (1893); "Coffee and Repartee" (1893); "Three Weeks in Politics" (1894); "The Water Ghost" (1894); "Chum to Chum Papers" (1894); "The Idiot" (1895); "The Invention of the Idiot" (1890); "Mr. Bonaparte of Corsica" (1895); "The Remarkable Adventures of Sandboys" (1895); "The Paradise Club" (1896); "The Mantel-Piece Minstrels" (1896); "The Bicyclers and Three Other Farces" (1896); "A Rebellious Heroine" (1896); "A House-Boat on the Styx" (1896); " Toppleton's Client" (1897); "The Pursuit of the House-Boat" (1897); "Paste Jewels" (1898); "Ghosts I have Met" (1898); "Peeps at People" (1898); "A Prophecy and a Plea" (1898); "The Idiot at Home" (1809); "The Enchanted Typewriter" (1899); "The Dreamers, a Club" (1899); "Cobwebs From a Library Corner " (1899).