Untitled Document

BOOKS WRITTEN BY ROCKFORD PEOPLE

Rockford has never assumed the role of political dictator outside of its own area of local interests. Perhaps, however, there are compensations and balances in communal as well as individual life. Certain it is that our city has produced a goodly number of what the late Senator Zach Chandler called "literary fellers." The general reader will doubtless be surprised to learn that not less than eighty books have been written by persons who have been, for a greater or lesser period, actual residents of Rockford. Only a small number, however, have been written while the authors claimed Rockford as their home. The majority attained this distinction after removal to other fields. It is, therefore, in no invidious sense that it may be said that Rockford is a good place from which to emigrate. It is the purpose of this chapter to present as complete a list as possible of these authors.

David G. Croly and his famous wife. "Jennie June," edited the Rockford Daily News from February 1859, to April. 1860. Mr. Croly subsequently became city editor of the New York World ., and later its managing editor. He wrote "Lives of Seymour and Blair." "A History of Reconstruction, and ''A Primer of Positivism."

"Jennie June" is best known to the world as the editor of Demorest's Magazine. Mrs. Croly's pen name of "Jennie June" was derived from a little poem written by Benjamin F. Taylor, sent to her when she was about twelve years old, by her pastor, with the name underlined, because. he said, "You are the Juniest little girl I know." Mrs. Croly's books are: "Talks on Women's Topics," "For Better or Worse," "Thrown Upon her Own Resources," "Knitters and Crochet." "Letters and Monograms," "Cookery Book for Young Beginners," "History of the Woman's Club Movement."

Bishop John H. Vincent, who has achieved world-wide fame as the founder of the Chautauqua Literary , and Scientific Circle, was pastor of the Court Street M. E. church from 1861 to 1864. During this pastorate he took a trip to Europe compan y with Hon. R. H. Tinker. Bishop Vincent's published works are: "The Modern Sunday School." "Studies in Young Life." "Little Footprints in Bible Lands." "The Church, School and Sunda y School Institutes." "Earthly Footprints of the Man of Galilee," "Better Not. "The Chautauqua Movement." "To Old Bethlehem."Outline Histories of England. Greece and Rome." "Our Own Church."

Rev. E. C. Mitchell. the first pastor of the State Street Baptist church, was subsequentl y professor of Biblical literature at Shurtleff College. professor of Hebrew in Regent's Park College. London, and held similar positions at Nashville, New Orleans and Paris. France. Mr. Mitchell revised and edited Davies' Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon. With this he issued "The Principles of Hebrew Grammar. In 1880 he issued a new translation of Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar.

Dr. Henry M. Goodwin, for twenty-one years pastor of the First Congregational church, was a gentleman of scholarly tastes. In 1875 he published his work. "Christ and Humanity. which was dedicated "To Horace Bushnell, my revered friend and teacher, whose profound and sanctified genius has made the world his debtor, and whose eminent services to Christianity in the re conciliation of faith and reason await the verdict of the future ages."

In 1864 Rev. Mead Holmes published a memoir of his only son. Mead Holmes. Jr.. with the title. "A Soldier of the Cumberland." This young soldier fell at Murfreesboro. Tennessee. April 12, 1863. at the age of twenty-one years.

Mary E. Holmes. Ph. D.. published in 1887 "The lorphology of the Carinae Upon the Septa of Rugose Corals." The book. finely illustrated, bears the imprint of a Boston publishing house. The work was presented as a thesis for the de gree of Doctor of Philosoph y . in the University of Michigan, and is signed by Professor Alexander Winchell. the well-known scientist and author of "Preadamites."

Mrs. S. M. I. Henry was one of the first women to devote her life to gospel temperance work in a public manner. Her writings are: "After the Truth Series." "Victoria." "Pledge and Cross."Voice of the Home." "Mabel's Work." "One More Chance." "Beforehand." "Marble Cross. "Unanswered Prayer." "Frances Raymond's Investment."

The late Elijah W. Blaisdell was a man of versatile talents. About twenty-five years ago he wrote "The Hidden Record." a novel, the scene of which was laid in the war of 1812. The book was published b y the Lippincotts. of Philadelphia. A short time before his death Mr. Blaisdell completed "The Rajah" a political burlesque. and "Eva, the General's Daughter," founded on incidents of the Black Hawk war.

Rev. Henry C. Mabie, D. D., formerly pastor of the State Street Baptist church, was in 1890 chosen home secretary of the American Baptist lissionar y Union. Previous to entering upon his duties, he made a tour of the mission fields, which were to come under his supervision. His observations were published under the title "In Brightest Asia."

The late Mrs. Mary Brainard. an old resident of Rockford. was a hospital nurse during the Civil war. She published three volumes of verse: "Esther Gray and Other Poems," "Memorial Pictures of War and Peace." "Heart Offerings."

Robert P. Porter. superintendent of the eleventh census. and widel y known as a writer on economic subjects, began his newspaper career as city editor of the Rockford Gazette. His books are: "The West in 1880." "Life of William McKinley. - "Municipal Ownership at Home and Abroad," "Industrial Cuba."

The later Frederick C. Pierce, another cit y edior of the Gazette, made a specialt y of compiling genealogies. His last achievement was a "Genealogy of the Field Family." for Marshall Field. the merchant prince of Chicago This work is in two large volumes, and a copy has been presented to the public librar y. While in Rockford Mr. Pierce published "Picturesque and Descriptive History of the City of Rockford," and "The Life of Hon. Robert M. A. Hawk." member of congress.

Professor T. D. S. Riggs, late of Ottawa University, Kansas. spent many years of his early life in Rockford. His father was a charter member of the State Street Baptist church. Professor Riggs has published "In Latinum." a Latin text book founded on Caesar, which was formerly used in the Rockford high school.

Professor Henry Freeman published in 1873 a book entitled "Wonders of the World." It is a work both of compilation and original work. It bears the imprint of a Boston publisher.

Rev. R. F. Y. Pierce was the third pastor of the State Street Baptist church to enter the field of book-writing. During his Rockford pastorate he wrote and published "Pictured Truth."

Mrs. Ralph Emerson published in 1891 the life and letters of her son. Ralph Emerson, Jr., who was killed in August. 1889. It is a beautiful tribute to a worthy son. who gave promise of great usefulness in later years. Mrs. Emerson has also published a volume of verse, "Love Bound, and Other Poems, which is dedicated to her husband and children.

The late John H. Thurston made a valuable contribution to local history in his "Reminiscences, published in 1891. In this little volume the author graphically portrayed that pioneer social life in which he moved.

Mrs. Harriott Wight Sherratt published in 1899 a delightful volume of travel, with the title. "Mexican Vistas." The local demand for this hook has been great, and the sale in the general trade has been most gratifying.

Harry M. Johnson is the author of a small volume. entitled "Edith : A Story of Chinatown.' the scene of which is laid in the Chinese district in Los Angeles. California.

Rev. T. B. Robinson. D. D., formerl y pastor of Grace M. E. church, has written a volume of verse. "The Yew Woman. and Other Poems."

Alexander AlcCleneghan, formerl y a well-known local newspaper writer, has written "Six Years in Heaven.'' founded upon the strange career of George Jacob Schweinfurth.

Mrs. H. Houghton Chapel.M. D.. published a small volume of poems in blot. She now resides in Palmetto. Florida.

Eugene Brown and Ford Rowe, formerl y connected with the Register-Gazette. compiled a work, "Industrial and Pictnresque Rockford."

Charles Eugene Banks. formerly city editor of the Register-Gazette. has published a volume of verse. "Sword and Cross. and Other Poems." Mr. Banks was also associated with George Cram Cook in writing "In Hampton Roads." a dramatic romance, which was once quite popular with local readers. Mr. Banks most popular work is "The Child of the Sun, a beautifully illustrated work of juvenile fiction.

Mrs. C. C. Tones' book, "Humanities." is an interesting series of meditations upon life, duty and manners. She presents her father as the highest ideal of the manly virtues. The hook was dedicated to the late Dr. Thomas Kerr.

Mrs. Carrie Grout's volume. "By the Way." is a collection of sketches, written in popular newspaper style.

Mrs. Eliza Roe Shannon. who recentl y died in west, a music teacher of Rockford in the early '6os, wrote the life of her father, the venerable Charles Hill Roe, for fifteen years pastor of the First Baptist church of Belvidere. Dr. Roe performed a unique service to his country, similar to that of Henry Ward Beecher, in delivering addresses in England and creating northern sentiment during the Civil war.

Daniel Fish, formerly a student in the Rockford schools, has compiled the most complete Lincoln bibliography.

Charles A. Church's "History of Rockford" was issued in 1900. This is believed to be the largest volume of exclusively original work undertaken by a Rockford writer. Mr. Church has also written the life of General Allen C. Fuller, the war adjutant of Illinois. He has also edited several pamphlets.

The autobiography of Elder Jacob Knapp was published in 1867. It is an interesting volume, revealing the inner life and notable experiences of one of the remarkable men of his time.

William Hulin edited a work on school law, with forms, which was of value to teachers.

Miss Julia Gulliver, president of Rockford College, collaborated with Edward Bradford Titchener, sage professor of psychology in Cornell University, in translating the first volume of "Facts of the Moral Life." This is a work in three volumes, by William Wundt, professor of philosophy in the University of Leipzig. The translation was published in 1897 in New York and London. The second and third volumes were translated by Margaret Floy Washburn. professor of psychology and ethics in Wells College.

Charles J. Woodbury, a half-brother of Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, formerly pastor of the Second Congregational church, published a volume in 1890 entitled "Talks With Ralph Waldo Em erson:"

Alfred H. Henry has written a story of Mormon life in Utah, "By Order of the Prophet." Mr. Henry is a son of the late Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, and lived in Rockford when a boy.

"Annals of a Quiet Country Town" is a volume of sketches written by Mrs. Julia Katherine Barnes, and illustrated by E. Warde Blaisdell. It is a series of local character sketches. Among the portraits are those of the late Dr. Thomas Kerr and H. H. Waldo.

Fay Lewis has edited and compiled a small volume, "The City Jail." It is a plea for more enlightened views and humane practices toward those who have been guilty of offenses against good order. A number of local writers contributed to the symposium.

Past and Present of Winnebago County

Illinois Ancestors