History of Plaistow, (Rockingham County) New Hampshire United States of America

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Biographies:

John Bradley Peaslee, educator and author, was born at Plaistow, N.H., Sept. 3, 1842; son of Reuben and Harriet (Willetts) Peaslee; grandson of Joab and Elizabeth (Eaton) Peaslee, and of John and Lavina (Smith) Willetts, and a descendant of Joseph Peaslee, the "come-outer," who emigrated from England; settled in Newbury, Essex county, Mass., in 1635; with Thomas Whittier, an ancestor of the poet, laid out and surveyed Haverhill, Mass, in 1642, and removed to East Parish, Haverhill, in 1645. John B. Peaslee was educated at Atkinson and Giltaunton academies; was graduated from Dartmouth. A.B., 1863, A.M., 1866, and from Cincinnati college, LL.B., in 1866. He was principal of the North grammar school, Columbus, Ohio, 1863-64; first assistant of district and principal of district and intermediate schools, Cincinnati, 1864-74, and superintendent of Cincinnati public schools, 1874-86. In 1879 he was awarded a diploma of life membership in the University of Turin for the exhibit of the Cincinnati schools at the Paris exposition of 1878. He inaugurated the celebration of "author day" and "arbor day," and in 1882 the school children planted and dedicated to American authors a grove of six acres, now known as "Authors' Grove." On Oct. 18, 1889, the American Forestry congress planted an oak tree near Agricultral hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, dedicating it to Dr. Peaslee in "recognition of his distinguished services in promoting the cause of popular forestry, and especially in introducing the celebration of Arbor Day by the public schools of Cincinnati and thereafter of the country." He was a trustee of Miami university, 1871-79; clerk of the Hamilton county courts, 1888-95; president of the Ohio State Teachers' association, 1886; president of the Ohio Forestry bureau, 1889-95; candidate for lieutenant-governor of Ohio, 1895; a life member of the National Council of Education and of the National Educational association; director of the University of Cincinnati; president of the Ohio state board of examiners for teachers, and a director of the Ohio Humane society. His published works include: Reports of the Cincinnati Public Schools (1874-86); Graded Selections for Memorizing (1882); Trees and Tree-planting, with Exercises and Directions for the Celebration of Arbor Day (1884); Moral and Literary Training in Public Schools, an address (1881); German Instruction in Public Schools, an address (1889); Thoughts and Experiences In and Out of School (1900), and many articles in educational journals.

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

Asa Eaton, clergyman, was born in Plaistow, N.H., July 25, 1778. He was graduated at Harvard in 1803. While pursuing his theological studies he was lay reader in Christ church, Boston, 1803-65. He was ordained a priest in Trinity church, New York city, in July, 1805, by Bishop Moore and returned to Boston as rector of Christ church. He was also for a time rector of Christ church, Cambridge, Mass. His voice failed in 1829 and he resigned his positions and engaged in city mission work till 1837, when he became connected with St. Mary's school, Burlington, N.J. In 1841 he returned to Boston where he resumed mission work and was also in charge of Trinity church, Bridgewater, Mass., at the time of his death. He was secretary of the board of directors of the American educational society. He received the degree of A.M. from Brown university in 1818 and that of S.T.D. from Columbia in 1838. He published: History of Christ Church, Boston (1828). He died in Boston, Mass., March 24, 1858.

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