The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-03-03
In Memoriam.
SKETCH OF ALEXANDER TERRELL, BY
DIR. s. D. SMITH.


and departed this life Feb, 0, 1888,
aged 81 years 1 month and Z days.
He was a native of the State of Del
aware, and was born on IL landed
estate that extended over into the
States of Pennsylvania and Mary
land, and upon which the historic
stone was planted by Charles Mason
and jeremiah Dixon, when Mason
and Dixon's line was established.
Being the youngest of a family of
seven, of whom his sisters, Mrs. DIR.
Daniel Ashton, of precious memory,
was one, he came to this city, some
twelve years ago, when deft hands
and affectionate hearts had admins
tered to his every want, during the
closing scenes of his somewhat sol
itlry life. 1t seems fitting that the
writer OF this memoir, having known
the deceased, long and well, should
bring this amaranthine wreath of
precious worth to garland the mem
ory OF this worthy man, for he was
indeed one of Gods noblemen. Al
though delicate and shrinking as a
child, he early manifested an extra
ordinary aptitude for learning, hav-
ing mastered without seeming effort,
all the branches in the schools of
his day, when but mere boy. At
the age of twelve years, without the
assistance of a teacher, he thor
oughly mastered a large treatise on
plain trigonometry and surveying,
and copied it into book with the
neatness and accuracy that would
have done credit to one of mature
years. Having exhausted all the
available means at hand, an oppor-
tunity offered through a Mr.. Mont
gomery, graduate and professor of
mathematics in the Dublin Univer-
sity of Ireland, who, owing to con-
vivial habits, was deposed and came
to America and was engaged to
teach in the Academy of Newark,
Delaware, then the great education
al center of large area, including
several States. Thus the way open
ed for the qualification of our friends
thirst for knowledge, and well did
he improve his advantages. A strong
attachment very soon sprung up be-
tween the warmhearted and erratic
teacher, and the youthful and retir-
ing schoolboy. Before his teens
were past the field of mathematics
had been mastered including the
Differential Calculus, as well as a
very liberal classical foundation laid
in Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
About this time the gifted and
cultured Montgomery succumbed to
his inebriate habits, and soon we
find Mr.. Terrell in the West, visiting
friends, where he remained for years
teaching in the adjoining State of
Indiana. firing of the West he re-
turned East, where for several years
he was q recluse, almost unknown
to his most intimate friends, so fully
enthralled was he in books, and
particularly in the study of natural
history, of which he was most pas
sionately fond, and which he mas
tered not only in part, but as
whole:
AT this time, Oct. IS, 1912; he was
joined in marriage with an estimable
lady Mira J. Street, of Philadelphia,
Pa, young artist of promise, sis
ter of Robert Street who half a cen
tury ago, ranked as portrait painter
with Benjamin West, the world re-
nowned artist; indeed the families
were related.
This union was one of long CON
tinued and most enjoyable compan-
ionship, modifying to great extent
the seclusiveness of her husband.
who after time was prevailed upon
to teach select school. In this
school he was very successful, and
for a score and halfof years, many
that love learning, were found study
ing under his instruction, the curri-
culum incident to II College or Uni
versity course and from this school
there went forth divines, attorneys,
physicians and professors that have
acquitted themselves we'll, and are
an honor to their several callings,
and that now drop a tear for their
old professor as he gathers his man
tie about him and lies down to rest.
"Sleep on dear friend in thy cold
bed,
Never to be disquieted
Our last good night; though wilt
not wake
Till we thy grief shall overtake.
Till age or grief, or sickness must,
Marry our body to that dust
1t so much loves, and fill the room,