3 1^5? ,C32g BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH DANIEL C. COLESWORTHY. By JOHN WARD DEAN. , '■■ > T- Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1893. ■* FfiiArfifi nt davjij tjtj.pp;& sow,; ; fit ktish SWe«t".S&>8toSi. DANIEL C. COLESWORTHV. Mr. Daniel Clement Colesworthv died at his residence in Chestnut Street, Chelsea, Mass., April 1, 1S93, in his 83d year. He was the second son of Daniel Pecker and Anna (Collins) Colesworthv, and was born at Port- land, Me., July 14, 1810. An obituary of his father is printed in the Register, vol. 6, pp. 3S9-90, and his pedigree in vol. 15 of this work, page 330. lie learned the trade of a printer of Arthur Shirley, who printed the Christian Mirror, a religious newspaper still pub- lished in Portland. Soon after attain- ing his majority he opened a printing office in Middle street, and began the publication of a juvenile weekly called the Sabbath School Instructor. He published other newspapers, the best known of which was the Portland Tribune, a weekly literary paper which he founded in 1841. He edited ami published it for four years, and then sold it to others who continued tie' publication. About this time he opened a bookstore in Exchange street, which was afterwards removed to the base- ment of the Manner's Church in Fore street. In 1850 he removed to Boston, Mass., and opened a book-tore in Cornhill, where 'he continued to carry on the bookselling business till his death. He lived to be the oldest book- seller in Boston. His bookstore was frequented by many men of note, lie counted among his personal friends Charles Sumner, Henry W. Longfellow, William Lloyd Garrison, Neal Dow, Nathaniel P. Banks, Elias Nason, John Pierpont, Elizabeth Oakes Smith, George Henry Preble, Wendell Phillips and John Neal. He began early to write in verse ami prose, and continued to employ his leisure in literary composition to the end of his days. He was a frequent contributor to literary and religious newspapers, and some articles were sent to editors just before his death, and were printed after he died. He was a voluminous writer and published many books. Many of his shorter poems had a wide circulation in the newspapers, and some found their way into hymn books and school readers, often anonymously. Some have been attributed to other well known authors. This was the case with " Little words in kindness spoken," and " Never say fail." His poem •• Don't kill the birds " is said to have had " great influence in arresting the slaughter of those inno- cents by inculcating in the minds of children a sentiment of mercy towards them." Among his published works may he named "The Old Bureau and other Tales"; "Sabbath School Hymns"; " Chronicles of Casco Bay " ; "A Group of Children " ; '• A Day in the Woods " ; •' School is Out," and "John Tileston's School." In Duyckinck's Cyclopaedia of American Literature (ed. 1875, vol. 2, page 511), this estimate of him as a writer is found : " His writings in prose and verse are adapted to the people, and are generally on topics of familiar do- mestic interest. His tales, of which he composed many, illustrate the morali- ties of common life somewhat in the school of Franklin; while his poems, written with ease and simplicity, cm- brace the ever-enduring themes of the affections." Mr. Colesworthv married, at Port- land, Miss Mary Jane, daughter of John and Prudence (Richardson) Bowers, who was bora in Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 26, 1812, and died at Chelsea, May 27, 1874. Their children were; 1, Daniel Clement; 2, Mary Jane; 3, Charles Jenkins ; 4, Ellen Maria, m, Charles W. Cochrane; 5, George Ed- ward; 6, Harriet. Ann, m. Thomas L. Hallworth ; 7, Alice Elizabeth, m. Frank E. Woodward; 8, William Gibson. All the children are living except the oldest, Daniel G, who died April 1, 1867. \ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 115 954 2 • . \ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 115 954 2 Hollinger Corp,