Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-02-01
BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1907.
Passing Of Two Notable American
Families.

There have been many illustrious New
England families i'm which the qualities
which win genuine distinction seemed
inherent Among them, here in the local
field might be mentioned the Hunt, Mead,
Bradley, Hayes, Field. Taft. Stoughton
and Shafter families. The death on Sat
urday in stocltbridgc, Mass, Of DR.. Henry
NJ. Field and on Friday in Hartford,
Conn. Of Mrs. Isabella Beccher- Hooker
removed from earthly scenes the last
members of two Of the most notable
families America has ever produced. Rev.
David Dudley Field was a clergyman who
preached in Haddam, Conn. and stock
bridge, Mass, early in the last century.
He was a typical Puritan minister by in
heritance Of blood and everything else.
His wife was a strong woman, also Of
Puritan blood and ways. To them were
born six sons and two daughters Every
one of the sons became a man Of note,
while four were famous. David Dudley
Field Of New York was one Of the most
eminent jurists of the country. Cyrus w.
Field laid the first Atlantic cable; stephen
j. Field served "a years and six months
as "a Justice of the United states Supreme
court. the longest term on record; DR..
Henry NJ Field was famous as preacher,
editor, traveller and author. OF the other
three sons. Timothy b.. n lieutenant in
the navy. lost his life at sea in early man
hood: Matthew d. built the suspension
bridge across the Cumberland river at
Nashville. Tenn, before the war and as
sisted Cyrus in laying the American cable:
and Jonathan Edwards, who continued to
live in the town Of his birth was a sue
cessful lawyer and president Of the Mas
sachusetts senate three terms. One of
the two sisters was wife OF missionary
named Brewer and spent much time in
Asia Minor and Greece. She was the
mother Of Justice Brewer OF the United
States Supreme court.
Henry NJ Field graduated from Will
liams college at the age Of IS. and at 90
was pastor Of a Presbyterian church in
St Louis. He also filled a pastoratc in
West Springfield, Mass. but his life work
was as editor Of the New YORK Evangel-
ist with which paper he was connected
over half "A century. His books Of travel
and other works have a permanent place
In the literature OF the country.
In Childs's Gazetteer Of Windham county
it is stated that Rev. Timothy Field. who
died in 1S43 after being pastor OF the
Congregational church in Westminster
West 80 years, was brother Of the disting
uished brothers here referred to. but this is
evidently an error. He was undoubtedly
a brother OF Rev. David Dudley Field and
uncle Of Henry NJ. David Dudley. Cyrus
and the others.
Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker was the
youngest daughter OF Rev Lyman Beech
er. who was three times married, and
reared "A family Of seven sons and six
daughters in Litchheld, Conn, where he
also like the elder Field. with whom he
was cOntemporaneous. was a country pas
| tor. All OF Lyman Beechers sons were
| clergymen and most OF them attained
/ celebrity by their character and their
| writings The most distinguished were
| Edward and Henry Ward The eldest
/ laughter. Catherine. was a highly sue
| cossful educator and published several
| books. The most famous OF the daughters
was Harriet Beecher Stowe. author Of
| Uncle Toms Cabin" which did more
| than any other book to create the popular
! auti-slavcry sentiment that came to a
/ head in the election Of Abraham Lincoln,
/ with the following crisis Of civil war, in
! which American slavery was overthrown.