Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-02-19

THE PEABODY INSTITUTE, DANVERS, MAsA
body institute listened to All aadres by
Rev J. W. Hunt on George Peabody"
At the town hall the public exercises con-
sisted of an address by Hon. f'iincis NJ.
Appleton, an Grafton by Lieutenant Gov
crnor Walcott, and n poem "One Hun
dred Years" by Rev. Minot J. Savage.
Old House Still standing.
The house where Mr.. Peabody was born
is still standing on Washington strcet-a
spacious and substantial rcsidencc-and Is
one of the notable landmarks of the town,
which is annually visited by thousands.
Mr.. Peabody was a descendant OF Licutcn-
ant Francis Peabody, who cmigrated from
ST. Adams, Hertfordshire, England, in
1851, and settled in Topsfield, then Il part
of Salem. His father was Thomas Pea
body, and his mother, Judith, daughter
of jeremiah Dodge. He received his edu-
cation in the district schools, and it was
while yet schooiboy that he earned his
first dollar by tending a rcfreshment
booth on day of celebration. This was
the nucleus of the colossal fortune sub
se9uently acquired and distributed.
Marked Business Ability.
He was grocer's clerk at the age of IL,
and SO marked was his business ability
ship with Elisha Riggs of Washington.
ID. G., in the wholesale dry goods BUSH
ness. Owing to his talent and industry
the house soon took rank with the lead
ing concerns OF the country. In 1897 he
withdrew from the firm of Peabody,
Riggs Il Co. and with Others formed the
firm of George PEABODY Il Co, money
brokers and merchants. With Midas like
touch he was able to realize handsomely
from his operations, and fourteen years
later he had accomplished the object Of
his life so far as the acquisition of a great
fortune was concerned.
Fluctuations Aggregate $4,000, 900.
His benefactions aggregate sl2, OOl,OO0
Among his prince!y gifts were over s., :
co., 900 to the southern educational fund,
=, 30, 90 for establishing homes for de-
serving poor in Londan, $l00, coo to the
Peabody institute in his native town, and
to the Peabody Institute in Baltimore he
gave in all Si,Op,OOO The town OF Dan
vers was enriched before his death by
gifts amounting to more than 500. O,U,
and his unparalleled generosity was man.
| ifestcd in the establishment of libraries
in Thctford, VT, and Georgetown, his
mothers birthplace. He provided the
means for fitting out the Advance, DIR.
kancs ship, for the arctic voyage in
search of Sir John Franklin.
Institutes Founded.
He also founded Peabody institute,
Peabody; Peabody institute, Danvers;
Peabody Academy OF Science. Salem, and
the $4,000 memorial church in George.
town are evidences of his generosity. In
the fircproot recess of the Peabody insti.
tute of his native town is the portrait,
valued ut s25. 900. presented by the Queen
of England to MIR. Peabody, the gold
medal voted by congress and other testi-
monials of esteem which have been called
out from time to time by his superb bene.
ficience Mr.. Peabody never married.
He died Nov. 4, 1861. and his remains
now lie in Harmony Grove cemetery, Sa.
lem, n large sarcophagus of granite mark.
ing the spot The obsequcs were held in
the South Congregational church and
distinguished men were present from all
parts Of the country.