Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-11
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complication of diseases, but the proximate
cause of his death was pneumonia which RI o
a rapid course, but was so violent at the first,
considering his reduced condition, as to pre-
clude all hope of recovery. DIR. Quinby was
born in the village of Saccarappa, in the
town of Westbrook, December 20, 1910, and
1t the time Of his death was little more than
70 years of age. His father was Benjamin
Quinby, a farmer and trader. one of the sub
staLtial citizens of Westbrook, and his moth
er was Elizabeth Jones. His grandfather was
also Benjamin who with wife Lydia Clemens,
was of Somersworth, N. II. The Quinby
family quite early settled in Dover, N. H, of
which ancient town, Somersworth once form
ed part. Benjamin Quinby of Saccarappa,
had three sons, Geo. w., Oliver H., and
Edward F., all of whom became Universa.
list preachers. Oliver was settled at Lisbon,
where he died, aged % years; Edward f.
had settlements at Bridgton, Fryburg and
finally at Norway, at which place he died many
years ago,
The subject of this notice attended the
|
at North Parsonsfeld and Bridgton. He pre-
pared for the ministry under the instruction
Of Rev. Zenas Thompson, and com menced
his work at Poland in 1885. He occupied his
time between Poland, Brunswick and North
Yarmouth, teaching the public school in the
latter town about two years, when he was
| called to the pastorate of the church in Liver
more, and was ordained to the work of the
gospel ministry. He was married in 1887 to
Lucy A. Corliss of North Yarmouth. Pre- vious
to this, he had boarded in the family of
Israel Washburn. He was at Livermore three
years and then at North Yarmouth several
years. His next and last settlement in Maine
was at SacO. After several years with the
Saco parish, he went to Taunton, Mass. From
Taunton he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and
was settled over the first society in that city.
He subsequently purchased of Rev. John A.
Gurley the denominational paper called THE
Star of the West" which he edited and pub
lished until 1857. While here he came near be-
ing fatally poisoned through the blunder of a
druggist who gave him belladonna for extract
of dandelion. His life was saved only by
prompt and heroic treatment, and his health
was SO impaired in consequence that he felt
obliged to sell out his paper, which, having
done, he returned to Maine. After rest and
restoration to health, IN his native town, he
supplied pulpits in various places, and finally
in 1859 he accepted call to Middletown,
Conn. Here his wife died in February, 1860.
From here he was called to the church at
Melrose, Mass, and while here in 1861, he
was married to Miss C. A, daughter of Ham
Brooks, Esq, of Lewiston. While here alse,
he, with James M. Usher, purchased the
Trumpet and also the Freeman which had
been respectively conducted by Rev. DIR.
Whittemore and Rev. DR.. Cobb. The two
papers were consolidated as the Trumpet and
Freeman, DIR. Whittemore being retained as
theological editor. III April, 1864, he pur-
chased the Gospel Banner and moved to Au-
gusta. He edited and published the Banner
until July last, when on account of failing
health he sold out to the present owners and
retired from work.
The above statement is only mere outline
of DR.. Quinby's life-work, nor can much
more than that be given mere. In the early years
of his minority, the controversial spirit ran
high and the faith which he had adopted was
persistently and bitterly assaulted. lie had
frequent public discussions with ministers of
opposite belief which required much prepara-
ton and involved a large amount of hard
work. When he went west, he found op-
position still more violent. He travelled
and lectured through much of Ohio and
Kentucky and in many places where a Uni
versalist sermon had never before been
preached. While in Cincinnati he wrote the
pamphlet entitled "Salvation of Christ"
which has passed through many editions and
of which many thousand copies have been
printed and disposed of. 1t was in 1856,
while here, that he brought out his famous
book, one that created much interest
at the time entitled THE Gallows, the
Prison and the Poor House, Plea for
HUMANITY 1t is a volume of 326 pages, and
an able and exhaustive argument against
capital punishment. DIR. Quinby early de-
voted much time 10 Ill Va NV
whole subject, and became thoroughly con-
WINGED that the death penalty IL not only bar
barous and demoralizing, but that It anords
less protection to society from the dangerous
classes than does close confinement in prison
for life. 1t was due to his influence and ef-
forts more than to that of any other person.
that the death penalty was abolished in Name
and its restoration by the last Legislature with
out any popular demand or reason for it, was a
matter of great regret to the Doctor; and ne re-
GREETED it all the more that failing health ad-
menished him that his work in this as well as
in other directions was practically done.
Since DR.. Quinby came to the Gospel Ban
ner and until failing health Obliged MIN 70
dispose Of it, there was scarcely any respite
from labor For many years he not only
edited the paper and managed its nnan-
cisl affairs, bnt he attended the CONVEX
tons of his denomination, county, ota'e
and national, and when not absent on these