The poets and poetry of the West : with biographical and critical notices

Front matter

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Preface

This volume is the first of a series designed to present a survey of "Western Literature— to make known who have been, and who are the poets, orators, and prosewriters of the States* which comprise what is properly known, in American history and geography, as The West ; and to preserve, in a form convenient for reference, their most characteristic productions.

The Poets and Poetry of the West has been prepared upon a plan contemplating not only the republication of poems which have become celebrated, but a fair representation of what may, not inappropriately, be considered the respectable poetical literature of the great Central Valley of the United States. It contains selections, Avith biographical notices, from the writings of ninety-seven men and fifty-five women, of whom sixty are, or at the time of their decease were, residents of Ohio ; twenty-three of Indiana ; fourteen of Kentucky ; thirteen of Illinois ; five of Michigan ; four of Wisconsin ; three of Missouri ; two of Iowa ; two of Minnesota ; one of Kansas. Among these poets, sixty-nine are native to the geographical division of the American Confederacy in which their fortunes are cast : to Ohio, thirty-nine ; to Kentucky, fifteen ; to Indiana, thirteen ; to Michigan, one ; to Illinois, one.

The others belong, by birth, as follows : Fifteen to New York, twelve to Pennsylvania, eight to Massachusetts, eight to Connecticut, seven to New Hampshire, four to Maine, four to Maryland, three to IMississippi, three to Tennessee, three to Vermont, three to Virginia, two to New Jersey, two to South Carolina, one to Delaware, one to Rhode Island, one to the District of Columbia, and four to Great Britain. The nativity of three is unknown. Of the one hundred and fifty-two persons whose places of birth and residence are thus analyzed, only twenty-eight f are known to be deceased.

♦Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Micliigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas.

t John M. Harney, Thomas Peirce, Julia L. Dumont, Micah P. Flint, Charles Hammond, Wm. R. Schenck, Louisa P. Smith, Elijah P. Lovejoy, Otway Curry, Harvey D. Little, James H. Perkins, Hugh Peters, Thomas H. Shreve, Charles A. Jones, Amelia B. Welby, Edward A. M'Laughlin, Laura M. Thurston, Eleanor P. Lee, Horace S. Minor, Emeline H. Johnson, Mary E. Fee Shannon, Benjamin T. Gushing, John G. Dunn, George Y. Welborn, Mary Wilson Bctts, M. Louisa Chitwood, JohnT. Swartz, Harriet M. Howe.

PREFACE.

Not more than ten of the writers herein represented can be classed as literary men and women in that sense which conveys the idea of the pursuit of literature as a profession. The poets of the West are, or have been, lawyers, doctors, teachers, preachers, mechanics, farmers, editors, printers, and housekeepers. They have written at intervals of leisure, snatched from engrossing cares and exacting duties. Their literary labors, consequently desultory, have rarely been given to elaborate performances, but rather to the emotion, the impulse, or the passion of the hour ; and yet it may be justly claimed that this volume presents a collection of poems, remarkable for variety of topics and versatility of treatment, exhibiting in a greater degree the feeling than the art of poetry, but preserving some specimens of descriptive and some of lyric verse, which are likely to keep the memories of their authors green for many generations yet to come.

In poetry breathing an earnest spirit of moral and political reform ; expressing just appreciation of material beauty ; revealing domestic affections ; representing noble aspirations for intrinsic worth and force, the West is rich ; but in humorous poems (except by way of parody) and in the more pretending styles, which are wrought by elaborate culture, it is far from opulent. The reasons are obvious. The earliest poem of the West was written in 1789. The regular chronological order of this volume comprises a period of only forty years — a period significant for perilous wars, for hard ■work, for amazing enterprise ; all of which furnish materials for literature, but, until the mellowing influences of time have long hung over their history, repel poetry.

It has been the intention of the Editor to include in this collection every person, legitimately belonging to the West, who has gained recognition as a Mriter of reputable verse. He doubts not some have been omitted more worthy than some who are presented ; but all coming within the standard established, of whom satisfactory information could be obtained, have been recorded. Facts calculated to make the volume nearer just, and nearer complete than it now is, will be gratefully received. The Editor trusts that a large number of fugitive poems peculiar to the West, Avhicli he found it impossible to collect, will hereafter be brought together.

For the measure of completeness with which the Editor has been enabled to discharge the duties he assumed, he is greatly indebted, for wise counsel as well as valuable assistance, to literary gentlemen in all parts of the West ; among whom special acknowledgments are due John P. Foote, N. Peabody Poor, and William Henry Smith of Cincinnati ; William D. Gallagher and Ben Casseday of Kentucky ;

'PREFACE,

John B, Dillon of Indiana ; Lyman C. Draper of Wisconsin ; T. Herbert Whipple of Illinois ; Sullivan D. Harris and A. B. Laurens of Columbus ; John H. James of Urbana ; and Harvey Rice of Cleveland, Ohio.

The biographic notices furnish not merely interesting personal facts, but will be found valuable by students of bibliography, and of the history of periodical literature. The aid which has been rendered the Editor in their preparation is announced in the table of Contents.

The order of arrangement is according to the time when, as nearly as could be ascertained, the respective poets included were recognized by the public ; excepting for the period 1850-60, in which the order of succession is according "to date of birth.

Trusting that his labors will promote encouragement of local literature among the people for whom he has worked, and believing that what is here collected will enhance respect for that literature, the Editor submits this volume not less cheerfully to their discriminating criticism than to the general good-will, which, in terms demanding gratitude, but with it enforcing embarrassment, has been expressed in leading periodicals and newspapers.

CONTENTS,

ADAMS, LOIS B.

A Song for New-Year's Eve. 328

Hoeing Corn 329

The Picture Bride 330

Lillian Gray 331

AREY, HANNAH E. G.

Autumn 384

Thanksgiving 385

The Fireman 386

Fame 387

Sleigh-Riding 388

Home Song 388

BAILEY, MARGARET L;

Duty and Reward 281

The Pauper Child's Burial 282

Memories 282

Endurance 283

BALLARD, GRANVILLE M.

Where?— Here. 652

Blood for Blood 653

Zula Zong 655

BARNITZ, ALBERT.

Love on the Upland Lea. . . 682

To Irene 683

BARRICK, JAMES R.

Absent Friends 573

The Forest Stream 573

One Year Ago 574

To a Poet 574

BARRITT, FRANCES F.

Biographic Notice — Orville J. Victor 510

The Post-Boy's Song 511

Song of the Age 512

Resolution 512

The Palace of Imagination 513

Page

Passing by Helicon 514

Childhood 515

Autumnalia 515

A Little Bird that every one knows. 516 Waiting 517

BATES, LEWIS J.

The Bridal 638

The Meadow Brook 639

The Happy Year 639

BEEBE, LIZZIE G.

Day's Departure 688

The Shadow of the Old Elm-Tree. . . 688

BETTS, MARY W.

A Kentuckian Kneels to None but God 580

BIDDLE, HORACE P.

Happy Hours 333

The Angel and the Flower 334

Love and Wisdom 334

Birth of Cupid 334

Idola 334

BOLTON, SARAH T.

Awake to Effort 370

Where is thy Home ? 373

If I were the Light of the Brightest

Star 374

The Flower and the Starlight 374

Dirge for the Old Year 374

In my Sleep I had a Vision 375

Mont Blanc 375

Lake Leman 876

Hope on, Hope ever 377

BONE, JOHN H. A.

Biographic '^o-nc^— William D. Emjodls. 589

The Two Temples 589

New-Year's Eve 590