The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-05-07
From the New York Evening Post
The Late Senator IA 1pan.

az h''@'S '7S-'sit'A a 'Hubs
Died. at Seubenvilp. Ohio, on the 10Th April
1857, Hon. Benjamin Tappan, late nator in
Congress, at the advanced age of 81. Judge
Tlppan was born at Northampton, Mas. His
clucItjOn was acquired in tie common schools
in his native town, aided by occasional private
instruction AMI the ptrusai Of books, which he
sought for ami read with great aviuity. From
early life he was iuquisitve after knowledge, and
during his whole career devoted all his leisure
hours to the acquisition of information on lit
erary, historical, scientific, legal and political
| subjects.
His parents were desirous of giving him a
collegiate education, hnt having overhearl'a con-
versatOn between them on the subject in which
his father expressed fear that the expense would
exceed his means, he expressed to them an in
tenton to acquire some trade, without acquaint-
ing them with the reason Of his decision.
A singular coincidence Also renders it remrrk-
able His father was one of the twelve chill
dren of the Rev, Benjamin Tappan, of Man
chester, Mass. At the age OF fourteen, for a
similar cause, he left his studies and learned
the trade OF a goldsmith. no, it is true. in his
ia Tiers shop, bul with Mr.. Holm $ of Boston, a
nephew of Dr. Bsnj ,mn Tappan, and whose
daughter subsequently beclme his wifi, and the
mo!h.r of thi sRj'ct of this article"
IL. learned copp4rp|ate engraving and print
ing. He also Morked sometim's in manufac
Nhllh5 Hllli'Hll JlllI9 HAt IIIlSlGdl
and at clock and Matchmaking; and during his
whole apprenticeship he was a constant reader
of every valuable publication he could procure.
At the age of twenty his father set him up in
business at Plltsi1Id, Massachusetts,, but hi:
thirst for literary, scientific AMI other pursuit.
was such that he found but little satisfaction in
his mechanIcal cmp!oym2nts.
The day he was twenty-one he presented him
self to his father at Northampton and slid =
] cir i- Ia l-,tr, -t, -.
there all the tools you gave ms. have Quit The
business and surrendered everything to YOU >
lie went to the West In lies as the companior
of gentleman who was ia full health, and wh,
died abroad.
Soon after they were at sea- it was found b,
him that three of the qualrants on board, (all
were so out of order that correct observation
could not be made with any within five miles
and the captain aud crew knew neither the cans,
nor how to remedy it. His mechanical skill ca m
here into useful play, AMI enabled him to hea
the dilficulty
Young Tappan returned to his native land an,
landed at New York Having from boyhoot
had taste for drawing and painting, he songh
the acquant tnce of the celebrated portrait paint
er, Gilbart Stuart, whose studio was in Ston,
street, with a view to acquire the art H-re b.
staiL six months. lie then went to his nativ,
town, and took the likenessrs of score or twt
temp's to paint the POrlrait Of his eldest sister
but ldlled in taking satisfactory likeness. On
day, after indugng litlI, too freely in II con
yivial circle, he made another atlernpt and sue
ceaded admirably. He said to himself Whei
a little excited by wine inl can paint bstts
than when perfectly subtr. have observe
that this is the case with many artists of IN
acquaintance. If, then, determine to Be
5 portrait painter, must take the hazard of bein
Iiuta,uuartIa will Al.
, lie did so at once ,although his prospects in tha
line were very encouraging,
At the age of twenty three he entered the Of
0 flee OF Gideon Granger, Esq, then an eminer
, Sse Democratic Review of jane and Jul,
lolo' which contains a biographical sketch
? Judge Tappan, attributed TO the pen Of H. D Gt
: PIN, Esq, th,n Solicitor Of he United $ At,
Ife"'ufy o her extract il this a Ilce ars TO
; the sdl4e soLIce.