History of Danvers, (Essex County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Harriet Waters Preston, author, was born in Danvers, Mass., 1843. She was educated under private tutors, traveled in France and England until 1865, and later became a translator from the French, and an authority on Provencal literature. She wrote a series of papers on Mistral's "Calendau," "Theodore Aubauet," "Jacques Jasmin," "Songs of the Troubadours," and "Arthuriad." Her translations include: The Life of Madame Swetchine (1865); and The Writings of Madame Swetchine, edited by Count de Falloux (1869); Memoirs of Madame Desbordes Valmore by C. A. Sainte-Beuve (1872); Mistral's Mir?io, Proven?al poem (1872); Biography of Alfred de Musset by Paul de Musset (1877); and The Georgics of Virgil (1881). She is the author of Aspendale (1871); Love in the Nineteenth Century (1873); Troubadours and Trouv?res (1876); Is That All? in "No Name" series (1876); A Year in Eden (1887), and The Guardians (written in collaboration with Miss L. Dodge, 1888).

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

Samuel Putnam, jurist, was born in Danvers, Mass., April 13, 1768. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1787, studied law, and settled in Salem, where he obtained a large and famous practice. He represented his county in the state senate in 1808 and 1814, and was a member of the lower house of the legislature in 1812. From 1814 till 1842 he was a justice of the supreme court of the state. He died in Somerville, Mass., July 4, 1853.

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

Fitch Poole, librarian, was born at Danvers, Mass., June 13, 1803; son of Deacon Fitch Poole and great-grandson of John Poole. He attended the public schools; learned the trade of a sheepskin and morocco manufacturer, and engaged in business. He carly contributed to the country newspapers and became an authority on antiquarian matters. He also displayed talent at caricature and humorous drawing, and modelled several portrait busts in plaster. He was editor of the Danvers Wizard, 1859-68; a representative in the state legislature, 1841-42, and postmaster of Peabody for a short time under President Lincoln. He founded the Mechanics Institute library, which later became the Peabody Institute, and was its librarian, 1856-73. He is the author of several topical satirical ballads including: Giles Corey and Goodwyfe Corey; Giles Corey's Dream; Lament of the Bats Inhabiting the Old South Church; a political parody on "John Gilpin's Ride," and Witch Davee and Banquet on Gallows Hill. He died in Peabody, Mass., Aug. 19, 1873.

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

Daniel Putnam King, representative, was born in Danvers, Mass., Jan. 8, 1801; son of Daniel and Phebe (Upton) King; grandson of Zachariab and Desire (Jacobs) King and of Ezra and Mehitable Upton, and a descendant of William Kine, who immigrated from England to America in 1635 and settled in Salem, Mass. He was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1823, A.M., 1826, and was admitted to the bar, but abandoned law to engage in the cultivation of a farm in South Danvers, inherited by his wife. He was a representative in the Massachusetts legislature, 1836, 1837 and 1843, and speaker in 1843, a member of the state senate, 1838-41, and its president, 1840-41, and a trustee of the state lunatic asylum. He was a Whig representative from the 2d Massachusetts district in the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st congresses, 1843-50, and in congress he opposed war with Mexico. He was a member of the Essex Historical society; secretary, vice-president and trustee of the Essex Natural History society; a corresponding member of the New England Historic Genealogical society, and a member and trustee of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. He was married in 1824 to Sarah Page, daughter of Hezekiah Flint, of Danvets, Mass., and their son, Benjamin Flint King (born 1830, died 1868), Harvard, 1852, was a soldier in the civil war and a lawyer in Boston. Daniel P. King died in South Danvers, Mass., July 25, 1850.

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