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

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Biographies:

Stephen Moody Crosby, financier, was born in Salisbury, Mass., Aug. 14, 1827; son of Judge Nathan and Rebecca Marquand (Moody) Crosby. He prepared for college at the Boston Latin school and the Lowell high school and was graduated at Dartmouth in 1849. He engaged in business in Boston, Mass., entered the army as paymaster, serving 1862-66, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of volunteers for meritorious services. He was a state representative in 1869, and senator, 1879-71; state director of the Boston and Albany railroad, 1871-72; commissioner of the Hoosac tunnel, 1874-75, and was treasurer of the Massachusetts loan and trust company, 1879-83, and president of the corporation from 1883. He gave much attention to art education, being a discriminating collector and patron. He was elected a member of the Boston art club, and its president in 1890.

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

Caleb Cushing, statesman, was born in Salisbury, Mass., Jan. 17, 1800; son of John Newmarch Cushing; grandson of Benjamin and Hannah (Hazeltine) Cushing; great-grandson of Caleb and Mary (Newmarch) Cashing; great great grandson of the Rev. Caleb and Elizabeth (Cotton) Cushing; great great great grandson of John and Sarah (Hawke) Cushing; and great great great great grandson of Matthew and Nazareth (Pitcher) Cashing, who emigrated from England in 1638 and settled in Hingham, Mass. He was graduated at Harvard in 1817, pursued a post-graduate course in mathematics, moral philosophy and law, 1817-19, and was tutor in mathematics and natural philosophy, 1820-21. He then engaged as law clerk in the office of Ebenezer Mosley of Newburyport, and was admitted to the bar in 1822. In 1825, 1833, 1834, 1846 and 1850 he was a representative in the state legislature from Newburyport, and in 1826 a state senator from Essex county. He was a Whig representative in the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th congresses, 1835-43. In the disruption of the party incident to the accession of President Tyler, Mr. Cushing supported the administration and came to be classed as a Democrat. President Tyler sent his name to the senate as secretary of the treasury, but he was refused confirmation on political grounds. The President in 1843 appointed him commissioner to China to negotiate a treaty with that empire, enlarging his powers to envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, and in 1844 authorizing him to treat also with Japan. He was successful in negotiating a treaty and establishing regular diplomatic relations with the celestial empire and in 1844 he returned to America by way of Mexico, thus completing the circumnavigation of the globe. In 1846 he was elected by both parties a, state representative from Newburyport. He appealed to the Massachusetts legislature to appropriate $20,000 to equip a regiment of volunteers for the Mexican war. Failing to obtain the appropriation, he, with the aid of friends, contributed the sum needed, and he went to Mexico as colonel of the regiment, being promoted brigadier-general soon after his arrival at the seat of war. While in Mexico he was nominated by the Democrats of Massachusetts for governor of the state and was again nominated in 1848, but in both elections was defeated by George N. Briggs, the Whig candidate. In 1850 he was again a member of the state legislature and was mayor of Newburyport, 1851-52. He was appointed an additional justice of the supreme court of the state in 1852 and on March 4, 1853, he was appointed by President Pierce attorney-general in his cabinet. At the close of the Pierce administration he was state representative from Newburyport three successive terms. At the meeting of the Democratic national convention in Charleston, S.C., April, 1860, Mr. Cushing was made permanent chairman and left the convention with the other northern Democrats who subsequently met in Baltimore, Md., and nominated Stephen A. Douglas as their candidate for the presidency. President Buchanan appointed him in December, 1860, a confidential commissioner to South Carolina to determine the disposition of the people toward reconciliation. He supported the administration of Mr. Lincoln, offering his services to Governor Andrew "in any capacity, however humble, in which it may be possible for me to contribute to the public weal in the present critical emergency," and was entrusted with various confidential missions both by the President and by the cabinet officials at 'Washington. In 1866 he was a member of the commission appointed to revise and codify the laws of congress. He was sent to Bogota, S.A., in 1868, by Secretary Seward, to negotiate with the United States of Colombia, and successfully accomplished the mission. He was with Morrison Waite and William M. Evans counsel for the United States at Geneva in 1871 in settling the Alabama claims. In 1878, upon the death of Chief Justice Chase, President Grant appointed Mr. Cushing chief justice of the United States, but his name was not favorably received by the senate and before a vote was taken Mr. Cushing declined the appointment. He was U.S. minister to Spain, 1874-77. He was married in 1823 to Caroline, daughter of Judge Wilde of the Massachusetts supreme court. He received from Harvard the degree of A.M. in 1820 and that of LL.D. in !852. He was an overseer of Harvard, 1852-56, and was a member of the Massachusetts historical society and a fellow of the American academy of arts and sciences. Among his works are: History of the Town of Newburyport (1826); The Practical Principles of Political Economy (1826); Historical and Political Review of the Late Revolution in France (2 vols., 1833); Reminiscences of Spain (2 vole., 1833); Growth and Territorial Progress of the United States (1839); Life of William H. Harrison (1840) and The Treaty of Washington (1873); and frequent contributions to magazines and reviews. He died in Newburyport, Mass., Jan. 2, 1879.

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

Benjamin Dorr, clergyman, was born in Salisbury, Mass., March 22, 1796. He was graduated from Dartmouth in 1817 and was ordained to the Protestant Episcopal ministry in 1823. He was rector of the combined parishes of Lansingburg and Waterford, N.Y., 1820-29; of Trinity church, Utica, N.Y., 1829-85; and in 1835 was appointed general agent of the domestic department of the Board of missions. In 1837 he resigned this position to become rector of Christ church, Philadelphia, where he remained during the rest of his life. He was elected bishop of Maryland in 1839 but did not accept the office. The University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1838. His published works include tracts and sermons; An Historical Account of Christ Church, Philadelphia (1841); Notes of Travel (1856); and Memoir of John Fanning Watson (1861). He died in Germantown, Pa., Sept. 18, 1869.

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