History of Lancaster, (Worcester County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Henry Russell Cleveland, author, was born in Lancaster, Mass., Oct. 3, 1808; son of Richard Jeffry and Dorcas C. (Hiller) Cleveland; grandson of Capt. Stephen Cleveland, U.S.N.; great-grandson of the Rev. Aaron and Susannah (Porter), great-great grandson of Capt. Aaron and Abigail (Waters), great-great-great grandson of Aaron and Dorcas (Wilson) Cleveland, and great-great-great-great grandson of Moses Cleaveland, pioneer. His father was U.S. vice-consul at Havana, Cuba, 1829-34, and the author of "A Narrative of Voyages and Commercial Enterprises" (2 vols., 1842); and his grandfather received the commission of captain in the U.S. navy, probably the first commission granted in the new department by the U.S. government. Henry Russell received a careful preliminary education from private tutors and was graduated from Harvard in 1827, receiving the degree of A.M. in 1830. After teaching school for one year, he went to Cuba for the benefit of his health. He then travelled through Europe, and in the fall of 1828 became private secretary to the American minister in Paris. Later he was chosen secretary of the American-Polish committee, and resided in Paris for more than a year. In May, 1833, he returned to America and in August removed to Cambridge where he became a proctor at Harvard college. In 1834, in conjunction with Edmund L. Cushing, he opened a school for boys in Boston, which proved very successful, and which he continued until his marriage in 1838, to Sarah P., daughter of James Perkins of Boston. He afterward devoted his time to literary work and to travelling for his health. He is the author of Remarks on the Classical Education of Boys, by a Teacher (1834);and The Life of Henry Hudson, in Spark's American Biographies. See Selections from the Writings of Henry R. Cleveland, with a Memoir by George S. Hilliard (1844). He died in St. Louis, Mo., June 12, 1843.

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

Caroline Lee (Whiting) Hentz, author, was born in Lancaster, Mass., June 1, 1800; daughter of Gen. John Whiting. She began to write stories and verses at a very early age. In 1824 she was married to Nicholas Marcellus Hentz. In 1831 she won a prize of $500 for a tragedy entitled De Lara, or the Moorish Bride, which was produced on the stage and subsequently published in book-form. She afterward wrote two other plays: Lamorah, or the Western Wild, and Constance of Werdenberg. Her published books include: Aunt Patty's Scrap-Bag (1846); The Mob Cap (1848); Linda, or the Young Pilot of the Belle Creole (1850); Rena, or the Snow-Bird (1851); Marcus Warland, or the Long Moss Spring (1852); Wild Jack (1852); Helen and Arthur (1853); The Planter's Northern Bride (1854); Love after Marriage (1854); The Lost Daughter (1855); Robert Graham (1856), and Ernest Linwood (1856). She died in Marienna, Fla., Feb. 11, 1856.

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

Henry Stedman Nourse, civil engineer, was born in Lancaster, Mass., Apil 9, 1831; son of Stedman and Patty (Howard) Nourse; grandson of Oliver and Mary (Houghton) Nourse, and of George and Parnel (Ames) Howard; and a descendant of Francis and Rebecca (Towne) Nurse (the latter judicially murdered as a witch on Gallows Hill, Salem, July 19, 1692) and of John Howard, immigrant to Duxbury before 1643, representative, 1678; also of John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, Mayflower pilgrims, through their daughter Ruth. He was graduated from Harvard college, A.B., 1853, A.M., 1856, and was professor of ancient languages at Phillips Exeter academy, 1853-55. During the civil war he served in the Federal army as captain in the 55th Illinois volunteer infantry and as commissary of musters of the 17th army corps, 1861-65. He was constructional engineer and superintendent of the Bessemer steel works, Steelton, Pa., 1866-74. He was a Republican representative in the Massachusetts legislature in 1883; state senator, 1885-86; a trustee of the Worcester Insane hospital, 1888-98; a member of the Massachusetts Free Public Library commission, 1890-1903; a member of the Massachusetts board of charity, 1898-1903, and became a member of the Massachusetts Historical society, of the American Antiquarian society and of kindred organizations. He is the author of: Early Records of Lancaster, 1643-1725 (1884); The Story of the 55th Regiment of Illinois Infantry (1887); The Military Annals of Lancaster, 1740-1865 (1889); The Birth, Marriage and Death Register, etc., of Lancaster, 1843-50 (1890); History of the Town of Harvard, Mass. (1891); The Ninth Report of the Free Public Library Commission (1899), and many pamphlets and contributions to historical and literary publications.

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

George Ide Chace, physicist, was born in Lancaster, Mass., Feb. 19, 1808; son of Charles and Ruth (Jenckes) Chace. His boyhood was passed on a farm. He was prepared for college at Lancaster academy, and was graduated at Brown in 1830 with valedictory honors. For a brief period he was principal of the academy in Waterville, Me., resigning his position in 1831 to become tutor in Brown university. In 1833 he was advanced to the position of adjunct professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, and in 1834 was appointed professor of chemistry. In 1836 the chair was enlarged to that of chemistry, geology and physiology, and he remained professor of these sciences until 1867. In that year the presidency of the university became vacant by the resignation of Dr. Barnas Sears, and Professor Chace assumed the office ad interim, holding it for one year, when the Rev. Dr. Caswell was elected. At the same time he was transferred to the chair of moral and intellectual philosophy, and held this position for five years. In 1872 he resigned, and passed 1872-73 in foreign travel. He was deeply interested in charitable and philanthropic institutions, in several of which he held prominent offices. In 1841 he declined the presidency of Waterville college. He received the degree of Ph.D. from the University at Lewisburg, and that of D. D. from Brown in 1853. His published works include: The Relation of Divine Providence to Physical Laws (1854); The Virtues and Services of Francis Wayland (1866); and Lectures and Essays with a memoir of the author (1886). He died in Providence, R.I., April 29, 1885.

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