The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-02
A PROMINENT CHEMIST.
Prof. Horsford Died at Cambridge
Yesterday.
FOUNDED THE RUMFORD WORKS
Prof Horsford Made Rhode Island Fa-
nous by the Invention Of the Well
known Phosphate, Bearing His Name.

Prof Eben Norton Horsford. WHIT
established the Rumford Chemical
works in this city aud was prominently
connected with that great corporation
which Is one of the unique institutions
of Providence, as everybody knows who
drinks phosa or uses Horsford's acid
phosphate, died yesterday afternoon at
his home on Carnegie street in Cam
bridge, Mass. He was suddenly taken
his physician DIR. Morrill, Wyman was
sent for, but he did not rally and died at
4:30 Il. NJ
Prof. Horsford was born at Moscow,
Livingston county, N. Y, July 27, 1918
HIS father was Jedediah Horsford FROM
Charlotte, VT, and his mother, Charity
Maria Norton from Goshen, CT. She
was in direct descent from Thomas Nor
ton of the colony OF 1889, which came first
to New Haven aud afterward went to
Guilford. He attended the common
schools and graduated as a civil engineer
from Rensselaer, institute in 1887. Then,
for two years he was engaged in the geo
logical survey Of the state of New York,
assisting Prof. Hall. For tour years he
was connected with the Albany Female
Academy as professor of mathematics
and the natural sciences and during this
time he lectured on chemistry In Newark
College Delaware. For two years after
this he was a student Of chemistry under
Liebig, at Giessen, Germany.
On returning to this country he was
appointed Rumford professor OF applied
sciences in Harvard University, aud nlled
this professorship for sixteen years. Since
his resignation Of the professorship he
has been engaged in chemical mauufac-
lures, based on his own inventions. In
all Prof. Horsford has taken out some
thirty patents, most Of them In the line
of chemistry.
He was twice married. In 1s47 he chose
for his partner in life Mary L'Homnedier
Gardiner, daughter of the Hon. Samuel
;. Gardiner of Shelter Island, n. Y. aud
in 1857 Phoebe Dayton Gardiner, her
sister. by the first marriage ne had four
daughters by the second one, ali of whom
with Mrs. Horsford survive him.
Prof. Horsford engaged in many works
OF general utility aud interes His first
work Oh returning from Germany was on
the proper material for the service pipes
OF the Boston water works, and in view
of this the city Of Boston presented him
with service of plate. Gov Andrew
appointed him on the commission for the
defence OF Boston harbor, soon after the
opening OF the late war; lie devised a
marching ration for the army, reducing
transportation to the simplest terms, and
of this ration Gen. Grant ordered, and
there was prepared, half million.
In 1873 he was commissioner of the
United States to the " orlds fair at
Vienna, and la 1876 was commissioner
at the Centennial exposition in Phila-
delphia.
Prof. Horsford has been a constant aud
munifcent friend or Wellesley College,
and from its organization has Deen presi-
dent OF the board Of visitors. The college
library has been endowed by him, aud it
was Prof. Horsford who introduced the
'Sabbatical year." by which the profes-
sors are alloAed every seventh year for
rest aud study in Europe, and also sys-
tenn of pensions for the professors.
In the past few years Prof. Horsford
has engaged in archaeological researches
aud investigated the stories OF early
American explorers, including Lief Erick-
son and others, and also Indian names
aud traditions. He also inves H. lated and
located the ancieat city OF Norumbeger,
in Weston, Mass.
In October, 1892. Prof. Horsford re-
ceived from the King Of Denmark the
royal Order Of Danebroy, in recognition
OF his historical studies