New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-23
THE HONORED DEAD,
LEWIS TAPPAN.


his life gradually ebbed out without the confusoa
OF his faculties the disturbance OF His tran.
quillity He ended life noble for honorable Effort and
distinguished for multfarious work for tho good Of k,
fellowmen, with serene and confident DEATH strong
In hs feryent faith The first shock Of the fatal dseass
felt January D. 1871 but his vigorous constitution
admirable habits, and hereditary tendency longevity.
kept back the slow but certain issue.
Lewis Tappan the ninth child and sixth son Of
Benjamin and Sarah Tappan. aud was born In North.
hampton, Mass, May %. i7Ss He came Of a family OF
good position in his native town, whose had al
ready beea illustrated by who bore IL with dgaty
virtue and some show Of renown. Tho Tappan family
came from England. Abraham, the founder Of the
family in America, landing In this country from YA,.
mouth in 1857. Lewis Tappans grandfather, tho Rsv
Benjamin 7. Tappan, was clergyman in WincbesteT,
Mass. who graduated from Harvard College In i7n
Benjamin Tappan, the father Of Lewis the eldest Of
~ children, boy OF parts and fond OF study
He sacrificed his own opportunity TO enter
Harvard College In favor ofbis youngest brother David
who afterward became Professor OF Divinity IN that
institution and going Boston, learned there tho trade
Of gold and silver smith, He there marie SARAH the
daughter OF bis employer william Homes who was tho
son OF Benjamin Frankn's sister Soon after his mar
rage he began business for himself in Northampton.
working In the precious metals for % years aud alter
ward engaging IN the dry goods trade. lie vas msA
much esteemed in the place Of his residence, stougin
his religious faith and scruplOus in It's practice, cordial
and social in his ways discreet and orderly ruler 10 S
family. He had great respect for The judg
| ment Of his wife, and aimed 20 impress hh
! children with hearty conviction OF her goodness
Lewis Tappan, then, by birth aud training, bent
! tho right and in his youthful mind was planted tina
seeds OF that Integrity, beneyolence, and keen o.
Justice which afterwari flowed with such excellent a.
ton. Several Of the brothers OF Lewis reached dstinc
! ton. His eldest brother became Judge aud United
States Senator from Ohio. John Tappan grew up 10 be
one OF the eminent Of BostOns merchant priuees
and prncely indeed IN his bounes and good works
Arthur Tappan, the th Of the founders Of
! Oberlin College, was among the earliest and
advocates OF the rights OF the slave, and
prominent in New-York man Of sterling worth and
merchant Of great energy. varied ability, and search
ing integrity III died In 1865 full Of years and honor
His fathers standing gave Lewis Tlppan the ad-
vantage OF such polish the society and ntegCuce of
a Massachusetts, country town OF the higher sort i'm
parts. neighbor and friend Of the family was
Gov Strong Lewis sent to the town school at the
early age Of Here he acquired rapidly despite
the drawbacks OF frequent changes OF instructors Who
at the best, unskled in their art. bright quick
bow he was earnest his desire for scifimprOyemen
and did not aDate Of learning and Ondness fot
valuable reading for all the dlscouragemens Of his SIN
gle district school He set himself copies and laugh,
himself TO write outside OF school hours. Al Is he bad
outstr.pped the instructions Of any pedsgogue tho
district school could furnish and remained for year az
home passing the time In study and work. AZ Is, he
became an artcled apprentice in the dry goods import
ing house OF B. & 7, Wggn Of No. 81 Safest Boston,
and according to the custom Of the tine wa taken into
the household Of one his employers. But the
tive boy did not feel altogether Of his in the society
OF those above him. and passed his evenings 10 his bed
chamber reading history, even IN Winter when he
had no fire. aud kept HIS feet from being
chilled only by covering them With tie bed
gear. His prudence and trustwOrthiness speedily
noted by mis- employers, and be sent. TO Maine With
the important charge OF caring for the cargo Of .
| wrecked vessel belonging 20 the firm. He acquitted
himself admirably saving the storing the goods.
aud afterward selling them 70 advantage. So well did
he approve himself all his business relations that Ia
received an offer OF the French agency Of Boston firm
with the salary Of 5000. high for that frugal
! time. Ills majority had hardly been reached when be
embarked In business with young under the
firm name OF Tappan & Searle. stephen II ggnsOn fur
nshng the main part OF the capital required In his
early business life and during HIS apprenticeship
he articles for the Boston journals and showed
the ruling spirit Of his life by almost always teaching
moral subjects aud with force and discrimination. HE
bent toward arguments and discussions in which truth
! and justice should be the aim bad been shown BY his
interest the sessions Of the bis native town.
He used often attend the courts when mere boy,
and listened with great delight to clear aud lOrcib!s
plea go
At the age Of Is be was Joined in marriage with the
youngest daughter Of Dr. VIM AapnVlll OF Brooklyn.
His mercantile career in Boston successful so far -
| the dry goods business went but Mr. Tarpan invested
largely in the starting Of mills to manufacture caeoes
and cottons, and became heavily involved. The frs,
piece Of calico printed 10 tits country from the
Charlestown bleachery sO-Csed glich he owned. The
pioneers business enterprises often forced to suffer
! that their successors may gain and Mr.. Tappan's
mill milestone abort his meek,
In 1927 he removed from Boston 10 NewYorE
aud became a member Of the firm Of Arthur Tappsn &
which had been IN existence for evesa years Not long
after his arrival IN Boston he joined d. William E.ery
Channngs church in Federal't, and was Tor years an
active aud jealous member, being pecailN FrOmlBep
| IN Suuday-sch00l work Rut he became deeply inter
estod in the preaching OF Dr. Lyman beehr' va" Sas
then the great Dul gark Of COnHega ~ Boston,
and renouuced his Unitarian connections giving has re
and defining his beliefs IN published letter wbon
| attracted much attention. In New-York lie engaged
actively IN work for the religious benefit OF me POOR
Dr. John L. Halls church Ftthavc.. where lie Re'
Cyrus Mason then pastor. with DR. Jerome G. bes
he established the first free Pres'y terrain ChcA lh ms
city, the Rev. joe Parker lately deceased htluS ho
first pastor Aitcrwnrd ne with other gentlemen. started
been bought for cOnycrs on into chapel ~ 1871 -
firm OF Arthur Iapp1n & c.. suspended IN the great
hnADcla Crisis WIN iaoi!ilc2 ol sI'o0' nu',i ~"
| afterwards paid IN full Not long after LOWS Tappai
withdrew from the firm and established the lrt mrrcAn
tile agency tle country, which be conducted success
fully for many years He had the most prominent part IN
cumstances of whose origin are TOO well known 20 re
qulre recspitukOn. For many years he was It's treas
ment Aiterward elected ~ President ne held that
! office iii 1850. when impaired hearing induced
! lis resignation The last Years az his NE
| have been spent In peaceful retirement IN
brooklyn, busted with private deeds Of mercy
and kindness lie has been for years member OF
Plymouth Chapel. having embraced the Congree3
Onalis aith about 1870 ia 1871 his Lc Of his BIT tBef
| Arthur Tppan, published ny HuTd Housb0n Oi
tnis cU he struck by para yss FOR Tie uTst INNS
lust as he had cent the sheets 10 press lie cncun-
stances OF his death have already been noted.
The field Of effort M which Mr. Iappln was most
widely known his work M the slavery cause.
,I..hAI ma heal la
| tnuous uGrIsitNc. -,
1870 Lewis 1appan received from his brother ArtnuL
OF Ihr JOlyIaL OF COEnercf NhloD