Biography Samuel Abbot

1 biography

1.1 origins
1.2 education
1.3 law practice
1.4 starch factory
1.5 scientific pursuits
1.6 religious , civic pursuits
1.7 death

biography
origins

samuel abbot 11th of 12 children of abiel abbot, farmer , settler of wilton, new hampshire. father staunch whig, officer of militia during revolutionary war, representative wilton in new hampshire general court, , entrusted business of town. formed excellent farm out of wilderness. of 12 children, 10 lived adults. of them educated, , 3 went harvard college: abiel (a d.d., later of peterborough), jacob (later of windham) , samuel. abiel abbot, sr., son of captain john abbot of andover, massachusetts, descended, in fifth generation, george abbot, emigrated yorkshire, england, , settled in andover in 1643.

education

samuel abbot pursued preparatory studies in part under brother abiel, chiefly fitted college @ public school @ andover, massachusetts, known accuracy of instruction , scholars offered admission universities. samuel graduated harvard in 1808.

soon after graduation, samuel abbot entered law office of c. h. atherton, esq., of amherst, new hampshire, student @ law. atherton availed himself of samuel s classical knowledge prepare son, c. g. atherton, later united states senator, college. purpose, samuel resided time atherton family. samuel abbot admitted bar in 1812, , practiced profession, first @ wilton, , @ dunstable (now nashua, new hampshire).

law practice

in 1817, abbot opened law office @ ipswich, massachusetts. here professional efforts favorably noticed judges of supreme judicial court indicating disciplined , argumentative mind. undoubtedly have met success @ bar if tastes had corresponded duties of profession. better accorded abbot s feelings pay debt of poor man, pocket fee of suit against him. profession no favorite him, , surrendered prospects offered natural bent of mind in following course of general reading.

starch factory

in course of reading, abbot particularly attentive chemistry , mechanics, had long been favorite pursuits him. aim apply them useful purposes of life. qualities , uses of common of vegetables, potato, machinery flour might extracted on large scale horse or water power, attracted attention. starch factory @ wilton, under care of brother ezra, result of genius.

in 1818, samuel returned wilton purpose of superintending , improving starch manufacturing concern. here, , in nearby town of jaffrey, branch of business had been established, spent remainder of life, devoting time principally literary , scientific pursuits, , relaxation business , mechanical labor.

the flour of potato recommended proprietors of cotton cloth factories in new england use sizing, in preference starch made wheat flour. demand potato flour became general, , manufacture source of profit. farmers of neighborhood benefitted in agriculture manufacture, afforded them home market , ready pay 1 of abundant , safest crops.

scientific pursuits

in continuing studies, abbot informed himself on of discoveries of modern science of time, difficult touch on subject, abstruse, had not made himself acquainted, , on not throw light , give information. peculiar characteristics of mind accuracy, caution , clearness. quickness intuition, detected weakness or fallacy of argument, , no man saw more legitimate application, or point @ force ceased.

in experimental philosophy, such caution seldom if ever misled facts form erroneous theory. in 1828, when “pneumatic paradox,” called, attracting attention of scholars, first suggested true theory, afterwards experimentally proved nephew, jos. h. abbot, , article thereon published in american journal of science , arts.

in 1837-1838, detected fallacy of instrument called geometer, attention of congress called. instrument supposedly applied alleged discovery in magnetism which, in addition direction of north pole, latitude ascertained.

religious , civic pursuits

theology favorite pursuit of samuel abbot. without being religious disputant, versed in history of christianity , various sects. few among clergy better skilled in biblical criticism, or better acquainted religious controversies of day. tolerant , kind christian sects, embraced unitarian distinguished trinitarian faith.

in establishing , sustaining lyceum wilton, in creating libraries town, parish, sunday school, , sabbath reading room, samuel abbot leading agent , liberal contributor. represented town in state legislature 5 years. member of school committee. superintendent of sunday school, , lecturer before lyceum.

he took lively interest in morals , education of young, , conferred benefits on rising generation, extent , magnitude of cannot calculated. if did not create, @ least did sustain , perpetuate standard of morals , taste reading , education wilton distinguished in men , scholars proceeded loins.

his life guided dictates of enlightened conscience. while felt , exhibited strong , decided marks of disapprobation, father never known in passion. man of uncommon meekness , modesty. no ambition professional or political distinction beset him. retiring in feelings, averse ostentation, abandoned law, profession regarded common highway distinction; instead took course of life best agreed peaceful disposition: acquirement of knowledge. consciousness useful satisfied worldly aspirations.

death

samuel abbot died @ age of 53. while superintending manufacture of starch @ jaffrey, interior of building caught fire. entered purpose of rescuing trunk containing accounts , securities. retreat arrested sudden outbreak of smoke , flame. fell suffocated, , consumed. such combustible state of building, , rapid spread of fire, no relief reach him. remains of body found amidst ashes of building.