Name/Title
1857-1858 list of obituary notices sent to Ebenezer BullEntry/Object ID
000226Tags
Ebenezer BullScope and Content
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Annual Obituary Notices. For 1857.
LOWELL, MASS., November, 1858.
I have prepared for the press, and Messrs. PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO., of Boston, have published, an octavo volume of 432 pages of “OBITUARY NOTICES OF EMINENT PERSONS WHO DIED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1857.” If the friends of persons “noticed” in this volume and the public shall sufficiently appreciate and support it, I pro- pose to publish a like volume annually. In the preparation of the work, I have examined, daily, various newspapers from all the States, and cut notices from them. I sent more than seven hundred circulars to friends of deceased persons, asking for notices, dates, facts, & etc. In many instances I have been furnished with eulogies, obituaries, sermons and newspaper articles.
In the preface, I say, “It has been my great purpose to bring together the obituaries of the distinguished men of the whole country; but I have also introduced our distinguished women, and the widows and wives of our eminent and professional men. I have also gathered the names of many revolutionary soldiers, and some centenarians, and aged people. The work will therefore satisfy the fondest desire to give more permanent and accessible record than newspapers have originated and developed our institutions: those whose names should be remembered by the generations to come as the statesmen, the soldiers, the men of science and skill, the sagacious merchants, the eminent clergymen and philanthropists: those who have brought our country to the prosperity and distinction it now enjoys.”
“To the kindred and friends of those whose names appear in this volume, I may be allowed to say that I have taken great interest and received much satisfaction in this ser- vice. The name, the life, the influence of every man makes a part of the history of the times: and I am sure this contribution to our annals will be of service to the future historian and a present consolation to the surviving relatives.”
I shall give opinions of the plan of the work and of this volume, from the press and individuals, that you may in a good degree be informed of its merits.
By contract with the Publishers, (who do not propose at present to put the book on sale to the trade, but will sell by local agents and canvassers) I am permitted to send a circular to the friends of all persons named in the book, and so far as I am able supply them through the mail or otherwise, with any volumes they may order. The volume is in every respect–in form, type and paper–in good style, and is to be sold at $1.75. So far as I can sell it through the post office, or by my order, or shall on the publishers, I shall derive special benefit. Books may be sent by mail by prepaying the postage. The postage and packing upon this volume will be nearly fifty cents, making $2 25 in the whole.
I send this circular to the friends of persons noticed in the volume for several reasons:
1. To inform them of the book and that their friend indicated by the superscription of this circular is noticed in it.
2. To ask them to sustain me in this labor by taking at least one copy.
3. That if there are any errors in dates or age, I may at once be informed, that they (the work being stereotyped) may be corrected before other editions. It is expected that successive editions will be required, and it is very important that as a permanent memorial it should be as free from errors as possible.
I propose now to send by mail prepaid a copy to any person who will remit to me TWO DOLLARS in Eastern bank bills or postage stamps. The name and post-office and State of the person sending must be distinctly written. This course will enable every one to receive at once a copy. It may otherwise be a long time, and perhaps more expensive to wait for the agent or obtain it from the bookseller.
I am preparing the volume for 1858 and also gathering notices of distinguished persons who died previous to 1857 and now invite assistance and correspondence of any person who can furnish me with notices. I hope an examination of this volume will awaken much interest in my efforts to preserve from threatened oblivion the precious memories of those whose virtues are our inheritance and whose lives are our worthiest models.
It is not decorous in me to urge this book upon your support as my toil and expense in its preparation were induced by you, but I may be allowed, perhaps, to say that I hope to find in your family circle sufficient personal interest in this volume to sustain me in establishing a work of present interest as well as of much value to coming generations.
Respectfully, yours, NATHAN CROSBY.
[U.S. 3-cent postage stamp, circular date stamp marks are partially visible but mostly illegible over the stamp.]
To the Friends of Mr. Ebenezer. Bull (Who Died during the Year 1857,) In Hamptonburgh N.Y.
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1831 EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL NOTICES.
From the Lowell Courier. “Every year removes by death many persons eminent in their profession or business: or distinguished for their attainments, their achievements or moral worth. Their merits are often duly recorded in the ephemeral columns of a newspaper, but beyond this they have no lasting memorial. It is highly desirable that by some means a record may be made of their virtues and distinguishing characteristics, in a permanent form. Such a desideratum Judge Crosby has undertaken to supply, and in the volume before us we have the result. The volume before us contains a large amount of matter. We welcome this first annual of this character, and trust it may meet with the abundant encouragement it deserves.”
From the Citizen and News, Lowell. “Many of the notices are very valuable in an historical point of view, and many others throw much light on genealogical points. If this series is continued, it will, of itself, be- attainments. It is intended to be for the useful and practical a book that must be owned, and we give it our strong encouragement. “The fine book which thus produced will in a few years become highly prized, and will be read at a continuously increasing value as each volume becomes older. Friends of the de- ceased will find such a usage of the departed as they have been sent to fit place within the compiler’s reach; the general reader will find much of interest and value, and the student of history and genealogy a rich mine which may be wrought to steadily increasing advantage as the work advances.”
From the Boston Journal, Nov. 19. “In the rapid succession of events, great and small, which crowd our swift speeding lives, the dead are quickly forgotten, are fairly jostled from thought and memory.” “The present volume is the result of a happy thought well executed.” The brevity of the notices fit them for the general eye, and even those who passed them with a sigh and tear, would equally feel the inadequacy of a finished sketch, while they cannot fail to be soothed by the comparative durability of the record. “The writer apologizes for possible mistakes, saying that as he has gathered his materials for the most part from newspapers, which are constantly liable to error in the transfer of such notices.” “Taking into consideration the extreme difficulty of his attempt, he has been singularly successful. Untiring industry, and patient fidelity to his task are apparent throughout.” “We hope and believe that he will meet with abundant encouragement in the prosecution of his worthy enterprise.”
From the Boston Traveler. “This is the first volume of a work that must be found very useful, and which, we think we can venture to say, is destined to meet with success. The distinguished character Judge Crosby’s aim is to bring together the obituaries of the distinguish people of the country, including women, the wives and widows of eminent and professional men.” “As the public become familiar with its character, we no doubt its learned author, or editor, will find his labors much simplified by the increased facilities for acquiring accurate information, which communication, and information that will be security against the misuse of every intelligible man who shall have facts in his possession that ought to be sent to its pages.” “We know of no work of this kind which has struck us more favorably than that of Crosby’s; and we are convinced that the public will extend to it that reception which it so eminently deserves, and which shall at the same time do justice to its own taste and intelligence while solidly rewarding the deserving author. The publishers, let us add, have contributed their usual skill to bear upon the work, which therefore must be, merely in point of beauty, a welcome addition to all good libraries. Works that are to increase and endure should always be handsomely printed, and such is the case with this new candidate for favor.”
From Vox Populi, Lowell, Mass. “This most interesting and valuable volume contains 432 pages. Its frontispiece is a very fine portrait of the late Hon. James Bell. The book is dedicated by Judge Crosby to Samuel G. Drake, Esq., President of the N. E. Historical and Genealogical Society.” “Among the rest we observe particularly a highly interesting biographical obituary sketch of the great American sculptor, Crawford, which alone should render this volume a desirable one to all classes. The author proposes to furnish an annual series of these obituaries, and we know of no one who will not find themselves deeply interested in the perusal of these memorials of departed worth and greatness.”
From the Boston Courier. “Judge Crosby is entirely competent to make the work all that is needed; indeed, the book as we now have it is a good and useful book; we only venture to offer a suggestion which may increase its value and utility.”
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EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF INDIVIDUALS.
From Rev. O. Street, Lowell, Mass. Hon. N. Crosby—Dear Sir: I have derived an unexpected pleasure from a three- hours acquaintance with your book. One would hardly think of going to an obituary catalogue for entertainment. Our first thought is that we shall go through it as we walk through a cemetery, caring to notice only here and there a monument, and that, not for the sake of the epitaph, but from respect to the memory of the buried one. But I find it quite otherwise. I have made a list of between fifty and sixty names, for future reference, with a view to their historic associations alone. There is to me the full value of the book in two or three of the notices it contains. I shall greet the successive numbers of the work with the deepest interest. May Heaven prosper you in this good work of rescuing precious memorials from oblivion.”
From Judge Bell, of New Hampshire. “The plan of the work is good, and its design meritorious. It will preserve many valuable notices of the eminent men, who are passing away, which must otherwise, for all practical purposes, be soon lost Its execution, both literary and mechanical, is highly creditable to yourself and your publishers.”
From Rev. Prof. Reed, of Hanover, N. H. “I have read it with unexpected and unabated interest. It is an original conception, a new book on a new plan. It is just the thing needed in every library and every intelligent family. I am surprised that you could have obtained such an amount of interesting Biographical Notices, so ably written, and filled with so many thrilling incidents in a single year.” “It contains some of the most classic writing, and some of the most poetic and refined outbursts of feeling to be found in our language. Anyone who will read the Notice of the Hon. James Bell, of N. H., or that of the Hon. Andrew Pickens Butler, of S.C., with the addresses made in the U. S. Senate on the announcement of their death, will under- stand what I mean. To gather up the incidents in such a life as that of Crawford, the Sculptor: of Lieut. Herndon, of the U. S. Navy; of Joseph K. Angell, Esq.; of Mrs. C. I. Allen; of Rev. Eli Smith, D. D.; of A. H. Lawrence, Esq., and many others, is rescuing the history of our country and the influence of our institutions in a new light. I think your book, humble as its pretensions are, is an onward and upward step in biographical literature, and you have my hearty wish for your success.”
From Thomas N. Stanford, Esq., Perth Amboy, N. J. “It’s examination and perusal, has afforded me very great satisfaction and interest. Many of the individuals who have been thus noticed by you were among my most intimate friends, and I am glad to possess the volume on their account.”
From Rev. Stephen G. Bulfinch, Dorchester, Mass. “I am surprised to find upon a very cursory examination how much of interesting in- formation has been collected. The notices of such men as Gov. Marcy, Judge Parris, Langdon Cheves, Judge Wilde, Senators Bell, Butler and Toombs, Lieut. Herndon and Dr. Kane, make your volume a work of national importance. Of its interest to individuals, as conveying intelligence respecting those they have known, I can judge from the fact, that among the first names I noticed in it, was that of a venerable friend in a distant part of the country, who died last July, but of whose decease I had not before heard.”
From Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, of Boston. “I have examined it with great interest, and hope it may prove the commencement of a valuable series.” “When our call shall come, none of us can wish anything better on this side of the grave than to be honorably mentioned in so permanent a register.”
From Rev. William Horton, D. D., Newburyport, Mass. “We were pleased to see the memorial of our dear Anna, and my wife’s honored father.” “It must be valuable to all whose friends are noticed in it, and certainly you have got it up in the very best style.”
From Charles Stoddard, Esq., Boston. “You do a great service to the country by thus preserving notices of good men and women, and I hope you will persevere.”
From Henry Austin Martin, M. D., Roxbury, Mass. “It places upon permanent record information of multitudes of men who would otherwise be forgotten, but who have filled spaces in society more or less general on the civilization and development of their time. Necessarily mingled with these biographical notices must often be found anecdotes and incidents of much historical interest. Many events might be soon forgotten or their memory obscured in the onward rush which characterizes our marvelous growth of this country.” “I must allude to the pleasure I have enjoyed in looking over the numerous notices of deceased physicians, and a particular satisfaction in reading the notice of the admirable life of Dr. William Yates, whose claim to having been the first to introduce vaccination into America, though quite new to me, is ably vindicated and seems undoubtedly.”
From Hon. Edward S. Rand, Newburyport, Mass. “I am much pleased with the work, and it will be found a very useful book, and should find a place in all good libraries, and I believe will meet with a most favorable and deserving reception.”Relationships
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