Rochester, Monroe, NY
Rochester Daily Advertiser
Fri Feb 15, 1833
OBITUARY -- Died, in the city of New
York, on the 27th ult., Winfield Scott YATES, only son of Christopher C.
YATES, M. D., aged a little more than 18 years.
The writer
of this notice, though well aware that records, however brief, of the life and
distinguishing incidents of the recently dead are always held of little
interest by the public, unless when the subjects of such memoirs have been
known in public stations -- or noted among the rich, the high, the gay or the
talented of the world--- cannot refrain from offering this small tribute to
the memory of one who, as he believes, lacked only space and fortune to have
earned for himself honors which would have ranked him with the highest.
Winfield S.
YATES was born in this city, in the fall of 1814, where his father had been
known for many years as one in the first rank of his profession. He resided
here till the year 1821; and his son, the subject of this notice, had even
previous to this date been noticed for the happy cheerfulness of his temper,
and his proficiency in the elementary branches of knowledge. He was fortunate
in the commencement of his career as a student; for, I believe, previous to
this period (1821) he had never, or but for a very short period, been at a
public school. He found ample material for reading of every description at
home, and his instructors till then had consisted either of the inmates of the
family or such occasional visitors as his father's hospitality gathered about
him.
On the
removal of the Doctor to New York, Winfield was placed as a pupil at the
academy of Mr. HALL, who had then for the first time successfully introduced
the Pestalozzi system of instruction into this country. Mr. HALL's mode of
teaching the relations of things, instead of those of words, produced so rapid
a development of the capacities of the young YATES, that towards the close of
1823, or beginning of 1824, (when not quite of the age of ten) he was employed
as an assistant tutor in Mr. HALL's institution. He had then mastered the
lower or common Algebra, and even ventured to peer into the interminable realm
of pure quantity, as it is treated of in modern analysis. Nor had he made
these achievements at the expense of the lighter literature of the day. He was
then known as a good linguist, and had already translated easy fables (a work
printed anonymously) for the use of Mr. HALL's Academy.
Shortly
after (if I recollect right, in 1828) he became, though then only 14, one of
the faculty of an academy established at South Hadley, in Massachusetts;
having charge, we believe, of the department of language, and being an
assistant in that of philosophy. It was here that the impulse which gave a
character to his subsequent pursuits was first felt. He became fond of
philological disquisitions, and his acquirements as a linguist were only
valuable as subservient to investigations of the general theory of language.
It however
became necessary to make choice of a profession. After much deliberation, that
of law was fixed upon; and some time during the last year he commenced his
legal studies in the office of Mr. John ANTHON of New York. He threw himself
with ardor into the laborious and in general dry duties required from the
youngest student in the office of a lawyer of established reputation and
extensive practice. And the writer of this notice recollects with melancholy
pleasure, with what high anticipation for the future, his father, early in the
last summer, related the confidential opinion of Mr. ANTHON as to the future
destinies of his pupil. He however did not forget his favorite pursuits; the
last evening (sometime in July) which the writer passed with him, he had made
prize of an antique Italian volume, and had found in it materials for
supporting a favorite philological theory.--- Shortly after this period, the
insidious disease of which he died made its approaches, and he is now no more.
He has been
happy in that his life has been the sparkling of the cup. He has been happy in
that his death was easy. He died without having cared to make a friend (or
what is perhaps the happier condition) to appease an enemy. -- Albany Daily
Adv.
----<>----
MAMMOTH BOY -- Mr. Jonathan FRANCIS,
living in Eagle township, Hocking county, (Ohio) has a son that weighed in the
fore part of December, at the age of 11 years and 9 months, one hundred and
ninety-seven pounds. Mr. FRANCIS, the father of the boy, weighs three hundred
and forty-five!
----<>----
HORRID ACCIDENT -- We are informed by
a gentleman from Plymouth, that a most distressing accident happened in that
town last week. The circumstances as he related them are as follows: A man was
cutting up meat, in his house, with a large knife; it unfortunately glanced
and struck one of his daughters, and instantly killed her. A large kettle
filled with boiling soap was on the hearth at the time, and the mother with an
infant in her arms was standing by the fire place. She was so much agitated by
the disaster, that horrid to relate, he let the infant fall into the boiling
soap, and it survived but a few moments after it was taken out. Thus in the
short space of fifteen minutes the parents were deprived of two beloved
children. -- Barnstable Journal.
----<>----
We understand that a son of Mrs.
PAGE, of Hartland, about 14 years of age, was found dead on Wednesday morning,
at the school-house near Summer's store. He went to the school-house to make a
fire, and the door being locked, it is supposed he raised a window to gain
admittance, and as he was entering, the window fell, and caught him by the
neck. When discovered he was suspended from the window, his head inside, and
his feet barely touching the ground-- the window closed down upon the back of
his neck, and the youth dead. -- Vermont Courier.
----<>----
DREADFUL ACCIDENT -- A female
domestic in the service of a gentleman in the Bowery, was seized with a fit
yesterday morning, while arranging the breakfast, and fell into the fire; no
person was in the room at the moment, and before the occurrence was known to
the family and assistance could be rendered, the sufferer was dreadfully
burned in the head and the upper part of her body. Hopes are entertained that
her life may be saved, although her situation is very precarious. -- Standard.
----<>----
__
GjS