The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-18
BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN P. HALE.

The american chronological Journal has
been doing itself great credit, giving a series
of interesting biographies Of distinguished mon
and women, accompanied by sketches of their
chronological traits, and illustrated by por-
traits. The July issue served up Paulina
Wright Davis and John Pierpont. In the Au
gust number it has followed these with Jesse
Hutchinson and John p Hale. The latter we
copy entire, taking occasion to add to its au-
thenticity and its value in the estimation Of
Anti. Slavery readers, by stating that it is I'M
derstood to have come from tho pen Of DR.. J.
+. Snodgrass, of Baltimore, who has enjoyed
opportunities in this city and elsewhere, to
study bis character well:
john PARKER HALE was born in New Hamp-
shire, State standing out boldly and proudly
on the page of biographical history as the
mother Of q large number Of men who have
reflected, in matured after years, honor upon
her name, by lives Of eminent usefulness in
various spheres Of public activity. His birth
place was Rochester, an ancient yet tasteful
village, located in STAFFORD county, and on the
Maine border, amid granite hills, "rock-ribbed
and ancient as the SUM- He was born on the
3lst day of March, 1906 His father bore the
same Christian name, but was born in Ports.
mouth, Rockingham county, just previous to
the Declaration Of Independence, in which his
State firmly united with her struggling sister
colonies He held lieutenants commission
in the army at the hands Of General Washing.
ton. The middle name, Parker, came from
bis fathers maternal progenitors. His mother
was Lydia Clarkson O'Brien, only child of
William O'Brien, an immigrant Irishman, who
died prisoner Of war Mt the early age Of %.
He was Of the heroic stock from which sprang
William Smith O'Brien, who is now suffering
Punishment for the "crine" Of endeavoring to
rescue his native Erin, 80 full Of cherished
though saddening memories associated with
the days Of her national Independence from
the tyrannous grasp Of Great Britain. Will
liam O'Brien and his brother will be found
honorably mentioned in Cooper's Naval Histo-
~, as performing daring Feat Of volun teer
heroism in the capture OF a British vessel, which
had seized lot Of lumber at Machias, Maine,
and which it was carrying off without leave or
license In 1884, the subject of our sketch
was united in marriage with Lucy H. Lambert
by whom he has two living children, both
daughters.
John p. Hale, the father, WAS lawyer. He
died at Rochester in the height Of his profess
sional usefulness at the early age Of forty four.
Fortunately, the mother OF our subject sur
vived her husband and was permitted TO watch
over and direct the development Of her son,
until she had the pleasure Of not only seeing
him enter successfully upon career Of profes-
sional usefulness, bat also into political life
under circumstances we'll calculated to crafty
maternal ambition, as the subsequent facts Of
our sketch will indicate. She died in 1882, at
the age Of fifty two years.
Mr. Hale's primary education was partly OBJ
taind ut the common schools OF New England,
those nurseries Of natural democracy, In
which the children of the rich, from reading
the same lesson from the same book, seated side
by side in the Same unoste ntatious schoolrS0m,
como 10 regard the children Of the poor ~ the
equals they really are In common Fatherhood,
and to retain that regard In after years
Subsequently, and after the death Of his 10
Their, Mr. Hale entered Exeter Academy then
under the charge Of DR.. Abbott, who died in
1888, after occupying that position OF useful
ness for Hfty years.
Thus prepared, he entered the venerable col