The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-04
"MRs. PARTINaToN, DEAD

Benjamin P. Shillaber, widely known
as Mrs. Partington," died at his resi-
dence in Chelsea, Mass, Nov. 18th. A
sketch of the incidents of Mr.. Shillaber's
life would be of interest, and ample ma
terial is not wanting, but letter re-
ceived from friend about a year
since containing a singular request,
which we respect He desired to write
the outline of his own life, making the
request that it should be published after
his death. 1t is given below from his
own manuscript:
Born in Portsmouth, n. H., July II,
1914, with an exceedingly limited educa-
ton at the old Cabot Street School
House under Masters Weeks and Barry,
was called, October 1880, to the printing
Office of the New Hampshire Palladium
and Strafford Advertiser, at Dover, n. H.,
continuing upwards of two years, during
a momentous struggle between Isaac
Hill and Levi Woodbury., the paper, in
Woodbury's interest, dying from excess
of energy. In 1888 came to Boston, fin
ished my trade, then comprehending all
branches of the profession, and labored
as a jour. printer until, in 1886, |, com
PEELED by failing health, went to Demar-
ara, British Guiana, where, for nearly two
years, l served on the Royal Gazette, the
Government official paper, a subject OF
| William ". and Victoria. Returned to
Boston in 1888, married Aug. 15 of that
year, still continuing in printer craft, and
i'll 1910, became connected with the Bos-
ton Post, edited by Col. Charles G.
Greene. In 1850 left to edit the PATH
finder and Carpet Bag, the latter a
humorous sheet, started by Messrs.
Snow and Wilder. Continued in this
position until 1858. While on the Post
in lS47, commenced the Partingtoniar
papers, which became very popular; like
wise commenced the rhymed effort:
which gave the unlocked. for-fame to the
author. In 1S53-the "Cdrpet Bag" {
financial failure, though deserving bet
ter fate-returned to the Post as re
/ porter, remaining until 1856, when th'
Saturday Euening Gazette Col. William
W. Clapp, proprietor and editor, became
the field of future operations. From hi
connection with the Gazette, through TIL
kindness of his principal, Mr.. Clapp, at
tanned all the distinction that has at
tached to his name. He became lee
turer, and though not brilliant success
was far from being failure. Mrs. Part
ington, his alter ego, opened to him
warm reception everywhere. He wa
called to Tufts and Dartmouth College
} for rhymed efforts, and won at the latte
honorary membership in the p. b. X. sc
J ciety. His connection with the Free
masons, Odd Fellows and the Bosto
Typographical Society led to frequen
drafts upon his purse for their banquet'
which he never denied, and many Othe
occasions where his fatal facility fo
, verse-writing was known. He asked fC
no pecuniary return, feeling that his gif
, If so it might be called, was for gener;
, distribution, his wish being to make otl
ers happy Succeeding he hoped. RI
moving to Chelsea in 1855, he was place
! upon the School Board-twO years II
} Secretary-on which he renamed fC
nine years, voluntarily retiring. He too
: no part in public affairs-though ofte
7 solicited to do so-save using his pen o
! occasions, but felt deep interest in ma
ters of general interest, and in the Wa
, of the Rebellion identified himself, ed
torially and personally, with his cOui
) try's cause, being one of the Chelse
. Committee of One Hundred, and cOntril
5 uted his means and time to the work {
\ that body. AS a veteran Odd Fellow
dating from 1913, he was instrumental
) establishing the Veteran Association
/ now grown numerous, and in 1883 gay
3 the keynote to the Return of the Sons {
5 Portsmouth, of which two events he WI
especially proud. 1t may be said of hin
t as of Dogberry, that 'he was fello
: that had losses,n and, with a dear vii
/ and children, life at times bore heavil
4 upon him, but he never rallied at fOrtur
: nor surrendered one whit to despai
Q Friends were true to him, and their al
r would have stayed him, but he had
Q good degree of self-reliance, and unit
years and failing health supervened, q, the
: help was not needed. The death of h
1 wife in 1SS3-"a sweeter woman nee
D drew breathh-was the saddest and mo-
!. crushing event of his life, and
3 mourned her with constant devotion
0 the last of his days. He leaves four chi
: dren-of eight-a son in New York,
Y widowed daughter, and one married an
9 one single, his faithful hOusekeeper. II
l has six grandchildren, one, William Shi
/ laber, Jr., graduate of Columbia Co
: lege, 80, and Alice Clement, of Welle
' ley, '91. He has published nine book
5 three original stories for boys, tv
poems, largely compilations from h
: works outside of his editorial labor
1 His highest incentive ever has been
Y please and cheer his readers. He II;
. been Democrat in politics and liber
Q in religious belief Vice President of q
5 Liberal Union Club, affiliating with Il
5 Universalists, but believing that chara
: ter more than creed was the standard I
! human excellence. Wishing he had bee
: much better, but thankful he was 4
, worse. he ends his immaterial story.