History of Falmouth, (Barnstable County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Katharine Lee Bates, author, was born in Falmouth, Mass., Aug. 12, 1859; daughter of the Rev. William and Cornelia Frances (Lee) Bates, granddaughter of the Rev. Joshua Bates, D.D., president of Middlebury college, Vermont. She was graduated at Wellesley in 1880; taught mathematics, classics and English at the high school, Natick, Mass., 1880-'81; Latin at Dana Hall, Wellesley, Mass., 1881-'85; was an instructor and associate professor in English literature at Wellesley college 1885-'91, and professor of English there from 1891. She is the author of "Rose and Thorn" (1890); "Hermit Island" (1890); "Religious Drama" (1893); "American Literature" (1898); "Spanish Highways and By Ways" (1900), of contributions to magazines and of editions of several of Shakespeare's plays and other English classics.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Worthington Dewey, mariner, was born in Falmouth, Mass., Feb. 4, 1807; son of Capt. Samuel Madon and Mercy Bacon (Hallett) Dewey; and grandson of Benoni and Sabra (Worthington) Dewey. His father was captain in the U.S. artillery during the war of 1812. Samuel removed with his parents to Boston in 1810, attended the public school, went to sea with Captain Ashman, making the voyage to the East Indies in 1820, was mate of the ship Topaz, commanded the ships Messenger and Israel, and visited the principal ports of Europe, South America and the East Indies. He retired from the merchant service in 1834. He was an ardent Whig and in 1834 cut from the Constitution, lying in Charlestown harbor, the figurehead of Jackson and subsequently returned it to Mahlon Dickinson, secretary of the navy, at Washington, D.C. He was a ship-broker in New York, engaged in trade with the southern states and the West Indies, 1836-45, and while thus engaged, publicly chastised James Gordon Bennett, Sr., for an offensive article in the Herald, after which encounter the two men became fast friends. He then became interested in politics and as a friend of President Polk commanded considerable influence during his administration. He invested in mineral lands in Virginia and North Carolina and while prospecting in these states to determine and locate such property he discovered in Virginia the largest American diamond ever found, which was cut and presented to James Gordon Bennett. In New Jersey he discovered the largest and finest American ruby ever found, which became the property of the Academy of natural sciences in Philadelphia. He became a citizen of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1846 and died there, June 9, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joshua P. Bodfish, theologian, was born in Falmouth, Mass., March 29, 1839; son of William and Elisbeth Bodfish. His ancestors were among the first settlers on Cape Cod. Father Bodfish was brought up in the Orthodox church, but studied and took orders in the Episcopal church, officiating for some time as assistant rector at All Saints church, Philadelphia. He was baptized into the Roman Catholic church by Bishop Domenec of Pittsburg, Pa., in 1863, pursued his theological course at the seminary of our Lady of the Angels, Niagara, and at Seton Hall, N.J., joined Father Hecker's Paulist community in New York, and was ordained priest Nov. 30, 1866. For ten years he was occupied with mission work in connection with the Paulists, and organized and built up the Young men's Catholic institute in New York. In 1876 he became attached to the cathedral in Boston, first as chancellor of the diocese and secretary to Archbishop Williams and later as rector of the cathedral. In 1888 he was appointed rector of St. John's church, Canton, Mass. He was one of the founders of the Bostonian society, a director of the Bunker Hill monument association and a member of the New England Historical genealogical society, and of the St. Botolph Club and the "Thursday Evening Club?"

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Reynolds Dimmock, educator, was born in Falmouth, Mass., Feb. 25, 1835; son of Thomas and Emily (Reynolds) Dimmock; and grandson of Edward Reynolds of Boston. He was fitted for college at the Boston Latin school and was graduated at Williams in 1855. He was tutor in the Boston Latin school, 1855-59, studied law in the Harvard law school and in the law office of Peleg W. Chandler of Boston, and was admitted to the bar in 1862, practising in Boston. In 1863 he relinquished the law and became master in the Boston Latin school, remaining under Headmaster Gardner for five years. He was Lawrence professor of Greek language and literature at Williams college, 1868-72, and was a trustee of that institution, 1877-78. He received the degree of LL.D. from Williams in 1872. He died in Quincy, Mass., March 29, 1878.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor