History of Lenox, (Berkshire County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, author, was born in Lenox, Mass., May '20, 1851; daughter of Nathaniel and Sophia (Peabody) Hawthorne. Her early life was passed in Europe during her father's consulate at Liverpool and his travels on the continent, 1853-60. She studied painting in Dresden, Germany, and at South Kensington, London, in 1870, and engaged in literature. She was married, Sept. 11, 1871, in Chelsea, England, to George Parsons Lathrop. In 1891 she gave up the faith of her ancestors, joined the Roman Catholic church with her husband, and in 1897 devoted herself to the care of poor women suffering from incurable cancer, the idea being suggested to her by the hospitals of that kind in Europe, particularly the one in Lyons, France, conducted by the Women of Calvary. In order to fit herself for this work she took a three-months' course of training at the New York cancer hospital. With two associates she established a society called Servants of Relief, which, although Roman Catholic in faith, was not connected with any order, and no vows were enjoined upon the members, although all intercourse with home life was necessarily broken. She also founded the Free Home for Incurable Cancer Sufferers in New York city. She was received into the Third Order of the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1899. She is the author of: Along the Shore (1888); Memories of Hawthorne (1897), and in collaboration with her husband, A Story of Courage (1894).

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

George Worthington, second bishop of Nebraska and 138th in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Lenox, Mass., Oct. 14, 1840. He was graduated from Hobart college, A.B., 1860, A.M., 1863; and from the General Theological seminary, New York city, in 1863. He was ordered deacon in June, 1863, and ordained priest in 1864; was assistant at St. Paul's church, Troy, N.Y., and rector of Christ church, Ballston Spa., N.Y., and of St. John's Detroit, Mich., 1868-85. He declined the appointment of missionary bishop of Shanghai in 1883, and was twice elected to the episcopate of Michigan, but the laity refused to confirm him. He was elected bishop of Nebraska to succeed Bishop Clarkson, deceased, and was consecrated in St. John's church, Detroit, Feb. 24, 1885, by Bishops Coxe, Hare, and McLaren. Hobart gave him the honorary degree of S.T.D. in 1876 and that of LL.D. in 1885.

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

Azariah Egleston, soldier, was born in Sheffield, Mass., Feb. 23, 1757; son of Seth and Rachel (Church) Egleston. His ancestors came from Exeter, England, in 1630, settled in Dorchester, Mass., removed to Windsor, Conn., in 1635, and thence to Sheffield. Mass. With three brothers he enlisted in the company recruited by Captain Noble and known as the "Flower of Berkshire," and was for eight months in Col. John Paterson's regiment. He re-enlisted for a year and served in Canada, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was in Colonel Stark's command at Trenton, Dec. 25, 1776, when they captured the Hessians; was at Princeten when three regiments of British troops were captured; enlisted for the war at Mount Independence opposite Ticonderoga, and was promoted sergeant; and was at the battle of Bemis's Heights, September 19, and at Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777. He was promoted ensign, Jan. 1, 1777, was at Valley Forge with Washington, December, 1777, at Monmouth, June 28, 1778, and at the siege of Newport, R.I. He was made lieutenant in 1780 and in December, 1783, proceeded to West Point, N.Y., where he settled his accounts as paymaster of the let Massachusetts regiment. He retired to Lenox, Mass., March 4, 1784. Governor Hancock commissioned him deputy quarter-master-general of militia under Gen. John Paterson, May 29, 1787, with the rank of major. He was married, Aug. 11, 1785, to Hannah, daughter of Gen. John Paterson. He helped to found the Society of the Cincinnati and his was the twenty-second name signed to the articles of association. He founded and for years supported the school that merged into the Lenox academy. He was the organizer of Trinity Episcopal church at Lenox, and his home in the town was the rendezvous of army officers and of the leaders in art, science and literature of the state. He represented his district in the general court of the state, 1796-99, and in the state senate, 1807-09. He was associate justice of the court of sessions, 1808-14. He died at Lenox, Mass., Jan. 12, 1822.

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

Richard Tylden (ok-mu-te) Auchmuty, philanthropist, was born in New York city in 1831. He received a collegiate education, and then studied architecture with James Renwick, with whom he was associated as a partner for many years. He served with distinction through the civil war, and soon afterwards retired from his architectural profession, and devoted himself to the development of Lenox, in Berkshire county, Mass., as a summer resort for people of means and leisure. As a philanthropist he undertook to cope with the labor problem. He saw the inevitable result of the monopoly which foreign skilled labor was establishing in certain trades, and he quietly set about applying a remedy. In 1881, in connection with his wife, he established a training school in New York city, where indigent young men are given instruction in certain branches of industry?such as plastering, plumbing, tailoring, blacksmithing, carpentry, and house, sign and fresco painting. The school was liberally endowed by Mr. Auchmuty and his wife, at its opening, and when incorporated in 1889, it received from them an additional benefaction of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, to which J. Pierpont Morgan afterwards added the gift of five hundred thousand dollars. The institution was established on a very modest basis, its avowed object being "to enable young men to learn the science and practice of certain trades thoroughly, expeditiously, and economically, speed of execution to be acquired at real work after leaving the school." During the first year, thirty pupils received instruction, but the fame of the institution, still in its experimental stage, spread so rapidly that the roll for the second year included ninety-eight names, while that for the third year rose to 207. Colonel Auchmuty's experiment was a practical success at the end of the third year. The annual list of graduates numbers about six hundred, and the plan of the school was largely copied. He died at Lenox, Mass., July 18, 1893.

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