History of New Marlborough, (Berkshire County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Amariah Brigham, physician, was born at New Marlborough, Mass., Dec. 26, 1798. He practised medicine at Endfield, Mass., 1821-'23; Greenfield, Mass., 1823-'30; and Hartford, Conn., 1831-'42. He spent one year in Europe and served as superintendent of the Hartford Insane asylum, 1840-'42, and of the New York state lunatic asylum, 1842-'49. He published "Influence of Mental Cultivation on the Health" (1832); "Influence of Religion upon the Health and Physical Welfare of Mankind" (1835); "Diseases of the Brain" (1836), and founded and edited the Journal of Insanity. He died in Utica, N.Y., Sept. 8, 1849.

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

Russell Salmon Cook, philanthropist, was born in New Marlboro, Mass., March 6, 1811. He studied law but decided to enter the ministry and was licensed to preach in Syracuse, N.Y. He was graduated at Auburn theological seminary in 1835; was a post-graduate student, 1835-36; was pastor at Lanesboro, Mass., 1836-39; corresponding secretary of the American tract society, 1839-56; and secretary of the American Sabbath committee, New York city, 1857-64. He established the system of colportage for the distribution of tracts and books and secured and successfully employed 547 colporters, besides 115 students, who employed their vacations in this work. He established the American Messenger in 1843 and made it the organ of the Tract society, and soon afterward issued the Child's Paper, the pioneer illustrated paper for children published in America. The monthly issues of these two periodicals aggregated 500,000 copies for many years. He also established the colportage system in Scotland, visiting that country for the purpose in 1853 and in 1856. He was married four times. He died in Pleasant Valley, N.Y., Sept. 4, 1864.

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