Benjamin Drew, one of the oldest male residents and best known citizens of the town, died Sunday morning at his home on the corner of Summer street and Spring Lane, aged 91 years, his decease occurring in the same house in which he was born, and where he passed a goodly portion of his long life.
Mr. Drew was born in 1812, and was a son of Benjamin Drew, a descendant of John Drew, who came to Plymouth about 1660, and is supposed to have been a son of William Drew and grandson of Sir Edward Drew, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1589.
John Drew, who came here, was born in England in 1642, and after locating in Plymouth, married about 1673 Hannah, a daughter of John Churcill, and from them the deceased was descended. Mr. Drew, after the schooling which the youth of those early days received began his life-work by entering the Old Colony Memorial office as an apprentice, and learned the art preservative of all arts thoroughly, and later on established himself in a printery in Boston where he remained for some time, but finally abandoned the business to follow the less mechanical work of a writer, He was a contributor to the Carpet Bag over the pen name of "Ensign Stebbins," and was associated with many of the litterateurs of sixty years or so ago, among them being Benj. P. Shilaber, who was better known as "Mrs. Partington."
He was appointed a teacher in the Boston public schools, and held that position for thirty-five years, being master of the Phillips and the Otis schools during that period, and also connected with the Meyhew and Glover schools. Just previous to the breaking out of the Civil War he removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he was connected with the work of education, and where a fine school was christened after him. Upon leaving St. Paul he went to Washington D.C., where he entered the U. S. Government printing office as a proof reader, a position he held a long time, and in which he won acknowledgment as an authority on typography. About this time he wrote and published a book, "Pens and Types,"
which has been considered a standard on typography for years. Another of his books written in a crisis of the country was, "The North Side of Slavery." He retired from active life about twenty years ago, and for a time spent his leisure in travelling, going around the world and spending a long time in China, where his son, Edward Bangs Drew is located, being a mandarin in the Imperial Chinese Customs service, with headquarters at Tientsin. While there Mr. Drew passed his seventieth birthday anniversary, and was highly honored by leading Chinese officials. Upon his return to America he came to his old home, and since that time has passed most of his life in Plymouth. He married Caroline Bangs of Brewster, who died some time ago. Four children survive him. Edward Bangs Drew of Tientsin, China; Chas. Acton Drew of Boston, and two married daughters who reside in Newton.
Mr. Drew had the happy faculty of not growing old mentally, and was a great favorite with the young people and children of his neighborhood, who were always glad to greet him. He was equally popular with his adult friends and acquaintances, and his extensive observation, literary training and wide reading made him a fluent, easy conversationalist on topics of the day or matters of history. His memory was excellent, and one of his earliest recollections was that of the boys running through the streets shouting, "Peace, Peace," when the war of 1812 was brought to a close. His last literary work was a book on Burial Hill, in which he transcribed the epitaphs and inscriptions on
the stones in that old burying ground, expending much time in deciphering them, and making a volume that was accurate and of historical value. From time to time since his return home he has contributed various articles to the Memorial-sometimes humorous, and at others critical, but always with a sharp point in them. His pen was always acutely pointed, and age and use did nothing to dull it.
Funeral services were held in the First Church, Wednesday afternoon, and were well attended, as the deceased had a large circle of friends. Rev. John Cuckson, the pastor conducted the services, and a quartette sang. There were many flowers.
Interment was made in Oak Grove Cemetery.
The above information is from the
"Old Colony Memorial" a Plymouth
newspaper. Sat. July 25, 1903.
Plymouth Public Library Microfilm
Benjamin Drew, one of the oldest male residents and best known citizens of the town, died Sunday morning at his home on the corner of Summer street and Spring Lane, aged 91 years, his decease occurring in the same house in which he was born, and where he passed a goodly portion of his long life.
Mr. Drew was born in 1812, and was a son of Benjamin Drew, a descendant of John Drew, who came to Plymouth about 1660, and is supposed to have been a son of William Drew and grandson of Sir Edward Drew, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1589.
John Drew, who came here, was born in England in 1642, and after locating in Plymouth, married about 1673 Hannah, a daughter of John Churcill, and from them the deceased was descended. Mr. Drew, after the schooling which the youth of those early days received began his life-work by entering the Old Colony Memorial office as an apprentice, and learned the art preservative of all arts thoroughly, and later on established himself in a printery in Boston where he remained for some time, but finally abandoned the business to follow the less mechanical work of a writer, He was a contributor to the Carpet Bag over the pen name of "Ensign Stebbins," and was associated with many of the litterateurs of sixty years or so ago, among them being Benj. P. Shilaber, who was better known as "Mrs. Partington."
He was appointed a teacher in the Boston public schools, and held that position for thirty-five years, being master of the Phillips and the Otis schools during that period, and also connected with the Meyhew and Glover schools. Just previous to the breaking out of the Civil War he removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he was connected with the work of education, and where a fine school was christened after him. Upon leaving St. Paul he went to Washington D.C., where he entered the U. S. Government printing office as a proof reader, a position he held a long time, and in which he won acknowledgment as an authority on typography. About this time he wrote and published a book, "Pens and Types,"
which has been considered a standard on typography for years. Another of his books written in a crisis of the country was, "The North Side of Slavery." He retired from active life about twenty years ago, and for a time spent his leisure in travelling, going around the world and spending a long time in China, where his son, Edward Bangs Drew is located, being a mandarin in the Imperial Chinese Customs service, with headquarters at Tientsin. While there Mr. Drew passed his seventieth birthday anniversary, and was highly honored by leading Chinese officials. Upon his return to America he came to his old home, and since that time has passed most of his life in Plymouth. He married Caroline Bangs of Brewster, who died some time ago. Four children survive him. Edward Bangs Drew of Tientsin, China; Chas. Acton Drew of Boston, and two married daughters who reside in Newton.
Mr. Drew had the happy faculty of not growing old mentally, and was a great favorite with the young people and children of his neighborhood, who were always glad to greet him. He was equally popular with his adult friends and acquaintances, and his extensive observation, literary training and wide reading made him a fluent, easy conversationalist on topics of the day or matters of history. His memory was excellent, and one of his earliest recollections was that of the boys running through the streets shouting, "Peace, Peace," when the war of 1812 was brought to a close. His last literary work was a book on Burial Hill, in which he transcribed the epitaphs and inscriptions on
the stones in that old burying ground, expending much time in deciphering them, and making a volume that was accurate and of historical value. From time to time since his return home he has contributed various articles to the Memorial-sometimes humorous, and at others critical, but always with a sharp point in them. His pen was always acutely pointed, and age and use did nothing to dull it.
Funeral services were held in the First Church, Wednesday afternoon, and were well attended, as the deceased had a large circle of friends. Rev. John Cuckson, the pastor conducted the services, and a quartette sang. There were many flowers.
Interment was made in Oak Grove Cemetery.
The above information is from the
"Old Colony Memorial" a Plymouth
newspaper. Sat. July 25, 1903.
Plymouth Public Library Microfilm
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