Page:One of a thousand.djvu/557

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SEARS. SEE LYE. 543 and dress-goods, New York, three and one- half years, and with Paton & Co., importers of lace and upholstery, New York. June 6, 1861, he was commissioned by Governor Wm. Sprague 1st lieutenant, 2d regiment, Rhode Island volunteers, and re- ceived a captain's commission, October 28 of that year. He was mustered out of service, June 17, 1S64, at the expiration of his term of service. His honorable con- duct in the war was uniformly attested by his associate and superior officers, and the record has since been emphasized by the many positions of honor and trust to which he has been called by his comrades-in- arms. He was senior vice-commander of Post 26, G. A. R., and an original member of the Post; was commander of Post 14;, G. A. R., Brooklme, two years, and has been re-elected twice since, but declined to serve. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company ten years ; Roxbury Horse Guards, 1st Massachusetts cavalry militia, eight years ; captain of company C, 1st regiment, Massachusetts militia, during the Boston fire ; has been a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion since 187 1 ; served on the staff of General William Cogswell, depart- ment commander of Massachusetts, also on the staff of Governor Lucius Fairchild, national department commander-in-chief, G. A. R. He was president of the 2d R. 1 Veteran Association, 18S7. Mr. Sears has been a member of the Boston Baptist Social Union since 1868, having been a director two years, and vice- president in 1887 and '88. He is a promi- nent member of the Masonic fraternity, 33d degree. His business since 1865 has been that of fire insurance agent and broker, with an office at 45 Kilby Street. His residence is Brookline Mr. Sears was married in Roxbury, February 1, 1863, to Emily A., daughter of Stephen and Rebecca Y. (Langley) Faunce. His second marriage was with Sadie A., daughter of Joshua and Annie (Pearse) Hunt, October 24, 1881, in Provi- dence, R. I. His children are : William B. Sears, Jr., Langley P., Harry Bowers, Stephen F., and Edward H. Sears. Mr. Sears is peculiarly fortunate and honored in his ancestry. Few more con- spicuous or honorable lives have blessed their generation than that which closed with the decease of his father, the Rev. Barnas Sears. He was born in Sandis- field, Berkshire county, graduated from Brown University and Newton Theologi- cal Institution ; was pastor of the First Baptist church, Hartford, Conn.; professor in Hamilton College, N. Y.; studied three years in I.eipsic, Germany, and in Paris; was professor, and later on president, of the Newton Theological Institution ; secretary of the state board of education, appointed by Governor Briggs to succeed Horace Mann ; was president of Brown Univer- sity, succeeding Dr. Wayland ; was ap- pointed by George Peabody, of London, general agent of the Peabody educational fund for the Southern states, and after twelve vears' service died in Saratoga, N. Y., July 6, 1880. The mother of Mr. Sears, Elizabeth Griggs Corey, was the daughter of Deacon Elijah Corey, Corey Hill, Brookline. SEELYE, JULIUS HAWLEY, son of Seth and Abigail (Taylor) Seelye, was born in Bethel, Fairfield county, Conn., September 14. 1S24. His early education was obtained in the or- dinary district schools. He entered Amherst College and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1849 ; studied at Auburn Theo- logical Seminary from 1849 to '52 ; after which he traveled abroad, and for a year (i852-'3) he pursued his theological stud- ies in Halle, Germany. Returning home, he was ordained in Schenectady, N. Y., and called to the pas- torate of the First Reformed Dutch church in that place, where he remained until 1858. His erudite scholarship attracted the attention of his alma maler, and upon his resignation of his pastorate he was called to the chair of mental and moral philosophy in Amherst, where he remained until 1875. His influence for a higher and broader education was not confined, how- ever, to the college grounds. The inhab- itants of the congressional district where he resided decided that the state and the nation at large should receive the benefit of his independent thought and practical work, and irrespective of party affiliations, elected him a member of the 44th Con- gress,- and he served as a member of the national House of Representatives from December 6, 1875, to March 3, 1877 ; he declined, however, a second term. While in Congress, though usually voting with the Republicans, he opposed the Electoral Commission and the declaration of the election of Rutherford B. Hayes. He was called to the presidency of Amherst Col- lege in 1877, which office he now holds. He has traveled extensively, and in 1872 responded to an invitation from India to