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Fellow Choate Researchers:
The following was on the Fentress Co TN list. I thought some of you might be
interested in supplying information if you don't already know about it. FYI,
I don't know any of these fellows.
Janet Hunter
Subj: PML Search Result matching choate or choat or Chotte or chote or
Shote or Shotte or Shoate
Date: 4/29/01 10:30:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: gnorris(a)kih.net (Gary Norris)
To: jleehunt1(a)aol.com
=====================================================================
A result of your requested PML search. To refine or cancel this
search, please visit http://pml.rootsweb.com/
=====================================================================
Source: TNFENTRE-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [TNFENTRE-L] Civil War Soldiers Sought
Myra and List Members,
Here's who I am trying to find regarding Civil War soldiers from Fentress
County. Any help on the net will be appreciated. These men were: Thomas H.
Allred, Fleming Beaty, Sabe Choate, Thomas Choate, William Crabtree,
Sherdwood Delk, Jesse Downs, John Francis, Tom Franklin, A. J. Frogge,
Harrison Guffey, Martin Gwinn, Eli Hatfield, Robert Hatfield, James A.
Hicks, Milburn Hogue, Soloman Hogue, James Madison Hoover, John Huff,
McKager P. Huff, Miller Hurst, Bill Johnson, John King, Henry Livingston,
John Livingston, Paton T. Livingston, John Lowhorn, John Mooden, John W.
Mullinix, John Padgett, Sherrod Pile, Sampson Ramsey, William Reagan, Joseph
Reeder, Bud Robbins, Harvey Schilling, John Gwinn Scroggins, Reuben Skinner,
G. W. Smith, John Smith Sr., Johnson Smith, Wash Smith, William C. Smith,
John L. Sproul, Isiah Stephens, John Stephens Jr., Dean Threet, George W.
Threet, A. J. Turner, James Turner, Drury G. Upchurch, Henderson Upchurch,
John A. Whited, Elijah Williams, Hardy W. Williams, Jackson Williams,
Benjamin Wilson, Berry Wilson, Isaac Woods, Silas Wright, and George W.
York.
Any help on the lives of these soldiers after the Civil War will be
appreciated. All of these soldiers were from either Fentress County or the
surrounding counties.
Gary D. Norris
I thought the attached might be of interest. I don't know these fellas at all
Janet Hunter
=====================================================================
Source: GC-Alleghany County Query Forum
URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/NC/Alleghany/10234
Subject: CHOATE family 1860s
Surname: Choate, Radcliffe
-------------------------
Found this online at library, VA Tech,
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/mss/msshp.htm
Hope it helps someone -
CHOATE FAMILY. CORRESPONDENCE, 1862-64. 0.1 cu. ft. Allegheny County, North
Carolina, brothers--William T., S.J., and J.W.--who served for the Confederacy
in the Civil War. William enlisted in Company I, 61st North Carolina Regiment,
and S.J. and J.W. enlisted in Company F, 22nd North Carolina Regiment.
All died in the war. Papers consist of photocopies of the thirty-two letters
written among the brothers to each other and to Martha Choate, wife of
William. Includes a letter to Martha from James Radcliffe, informing her
of her husband's death. Ms85-016.
The following poem is new to me and made me think of some of our more
notorious Southern Choates (that's quite a large group too!!).
Pappy's Gal
Suzy Lee fell in love.
She planned to marry Joe.
She was so happy bout it all,
she told her pappy so.
Pappy told her,"Suzie Gal"
you'll have to find another.
I'd just as soon yo maw don't know,
but Joe is yo half-brother.
So Suzie forgot about her Joe
and planned to marry Will.
But, after telling pappy this
he said "There's trouble still".
You can't marry Will, my gal,
and please don't tell yo mother,
cause Will and Joe and several mo
I know is yo half-brother"
But Mama knew and said "Honey chile,
do what makes yo happy.
Marry Will or marry Joe,
You ain't no kin to pappy!"
Best Regards,
Janet Hunter (Edward & ???Elizabeth Hawkins??? Choate, d. Robertson Co TN>
Edward & ???? d. Robertson Co>Gabriel & Lucy WEbb>Powhatan & Winney Haley
moved to Dade Co MO early 1850s>Lucinda Choate & Henry Bird...my gg
grandparents.
http://www.african-nativeamerican.com/DawesCDE.htm
Source: National Archives Microfilm Publication M 1186.
From list of the former slaves of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory (now
Oklahoma)
Choat, Henry 1542
Choat, Edna 1716
Choat, George 2199
Choat, Amos 2284
Choat, Mandy 2285
Choat, William 2286
Choat, Levi 2287
Choat, Allen 2288
Choat, Willie 2289
Choat, Dennis 2305
Choat, Manuel 3664
Choat, Charley 3665
Choat, Mariah 4153
-----Original Message-----
From: Joan Rose <jmrh(a)midwest.net>
To: TNWAYNE-L(a)rootsweb.com <TNWAYNE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: Sunday, April 08, 2001 10:54 AM
Subject: [TNWAYNE] Arthur Choate Family of Wayne Co.
>Hello,
>
>I'm interested in learning about the Arthur Choate family who were in Wayne
County from 1820 on. I have communicated with a number of Choate
researchers but have not learned about this family. Can someone help? What
Choate line are they?
>
>I got interested because there is a deed in Shelby Co., Tenn. in l847 from
a Joseph Choate (believed born between l760-1770, in Maury Co. l820, then
Shelby Co. thru l840 7 died by l850 in Shelby Co.) to my Vachel ROSE "for
love and affection". That usually means a close family tie but I certainly
don't know what the tie might be. I'm told by other Choate reserchers that
that Joseph Choate was probably a son of Squire Thomas Choate (of Va,
eastern Tenn. & S.C. who died about l788) & Elizabeth Keith and a brother of
a John Choate, who died in Dickson Co. by 1840, and Thomas Kyle Choate, who
died c. 1837 in Lawrence Co., Tenn.
>
>Vachel Rose was born 1799 somewhere in Tenn., was in Wayne Co. 1820 through
1840 census, then moved to DeSoto Co., Tenn. (just south of Shelby Co., TN)
for 1850 census & then to Arkansas. He died in Cross Co., Ark. 1873. He
married Polly/Mary Burns in Wayne Co. in 1824, per Bible listing.
>
>Any help appreciated. Thanks. Joan Rose jmrh(a)midwest.net
>
>
Shawn..........will just give you a basic outline of what I show in my database....does not
mean that it is definitely so........but notes from a lot of people, etc. that I have put in---
have a few notes and places, but I am sure there are some out there that definitely are in
this Southern Choate lineage, who will be more expert on this........
Christopher #2 Choate b. abt 1688, Anne Arundel Co., MD
..his son Richard Choate b. 8 Nov 1722--d.1788
....Richard's son Augustine Choate b. abt 1742, VA; d.1823 Mecklenburg, NC
......Augustine's son Augustine, Jr., b. abt 1770
......Augustine's son William, b.12 Jan 1766; d. York Co., SC marr to Rachel Simril
Maybe this will spark someone else into giving more correct info on this lineage, if this is
not correct. I have more on William b. 1766.......if you're interested.
Just let me know.......hope it goes well for you.......
Bev Casey
Page 208
THE CHOATES IN AMERICA.
that time he deferred his departure. On the 24th of May he went to the
home of his son-in-law, Mr. Bell, in Dorchester. Here he spent a month
in quiet rest. Never had he seemed to enjoy every object with a keener
relish. 'What can a person do?' he once said, after looking long at a
beautiful landscape, 'Life is not long enough.' " It soon became
necessary for him to decide if he would go abroad that summer. On the
29th of June he took passage on the "Europa." He could not have been
unaware of his critical condition, that he was probably embarking on a
longer voyage than that across the Atlantic. The weariness of travel
proved more than he had strength to bear, and at midnight of the 30th he
was landed with his son at Halifax. Here, under the care of the surgeon
on board the flag-ship of the Admiral of the British fleet, he waited
patiently for the end. His window overlooked that beautiful harbor, and
from it he watched the ships, with his old love of the sea. "If a
schooner or sloop goes by,'' he once said when dropping into a doze,
"don't disturb me, but if there is a square-rigged vessel wake me
up." He remained constantly cheerful and hopeful. On the 12th of July
the doctor encouraged him that he would soon be able to go home. He had
been better that day, but before night he said to his son that he felt
faint. These were his last words. At twenty minutes before two o'clock
the next morning it was all over. The voyage was ended, and the great
square-rigged vessel swung round to her anchor in the home port.
[end of biography.]
My name is Shawn Choat Martin. I have been a silent member of this mailing
list for a few months. I have been spending my time reading the archived
messages looking for my Choat line of ancestors. I have found nothing
directly on this group of this branch of the Choat Tree. I have done a lot
of research on this line, but still have not figured out all the members yet.
I am hoping by posting this LONG message I can find another that is
researching this family.
Augustine was the son of Augustine Choat born about 1742 in Virgnia
(Lunenburg or Pittsylvania Co.) and suspected to have died in Montgomery Co.,
KY Abt. 1818
NOTES on Augustine Choat, Sr.:
Appears in York Co., SC records. He moved to Mecklenburg Co., NC. Records
show he brought a wife, two sons and two daughters. Moved to Kentucky with
son Augustine 1772. Appeared in the 1797 -- Montgomery Co., KY Tax
records. Augustine, Sr. last appeared in the Montgomery/Bath Co., KY tax
records in 1817 so Can we assume that he died before 1818? At this time
period Bath Co. was part of Montgomery Co., KY. Other children I know of are
William of York Co., SC and Edward b. about 1776 in (believed) North
Carolina. Have never see reference to the name of his wife.
Back to Augustine Choat, Jr.:
In his will dated 28 December 1838, he refers to his children: Samual
Choate, Mariah Glover, Nelly, Isaac Choat, Austin Choat, Margaret Epperson,
John Choat, Richard Choat. I have never seen any reference to his wife's
name either.
The following is what I have found on his children:
1. Samuel, b. Abt. 1790, KY -- married Polly Grayson 21 June 1819 (recorded
in Marriage book 1). They had one daughter named Margaret Micha April 1818
who married William Delaney McCain. I suspect they have have had another
child, but can't confirm this. The only thing that I have found to
substantiate this is the following:
Bath Co., KY Deed E, Page 76 Asa Ashly, alias Asa Choat, infant child of
Polly Welch (late Polly Choat) 12 years of age apprenticed to Charles Cooper,
blacksmith 13 Sept 1829
I haven't been able to determine when Samuel died, but this shows Polly was
married to Mr. Welch in September 1829. I have found a Samuel Choat listed
Dannaldson's Mounted Kentucky Volunteers and Potters Kentucky Militia during
the War of 1812. Samuel is also listed in the 1820 Bath Co., KY Census Index.
2. Isaac W., (who I descend from) was born 23 July 1804 and died 13 December
1866, Franklin Parish, LA. He migrated to Claiborne Co., MS where he married
Catherine McAlister (parents unknown) 24 June 1830. They had one son whose
name is unknown that died in infancy in Mississippi. NOTE: The cemetery
where most of the early descendant were buried has now been turned into a
cornfield and the records are lost since LA did not start keeping birth and
death records until 1937. In the 1850 Franklin Parish Census, Isaac is
listed as a Blacksmith. In this census he and Catharine are listed as being
born in Kentucky. His father was also a blacksmith and farmer. Their other
children were:
1. Isaac W. Choat, Jr. b. abt. 1835 in Claiborne Co. MS m. Martha E. Griffin
in Franklin Parish, LA 25 November 1863.
2. Henrietta Neil Choat, b. 29 March 1839 Franklin Parish, LA and d. 22
March 1959. She married Roger Sherman Boughton in Franklin Parish, LA on 26
October 1854. She died in childbirth.
3. William Franklin Choat (my gggrandfater) b. 1842 Franklin Parish, LA, d.
15 April 1915 Richland Parish, LA. He married Samantha Ann Green Thomason 29
June 1864 in Sicily Island, LA.
4. George Choat, b. 1846 Franklin Parish, LA, d. 1850 Richland Parish, LA
5. Sarah J. Choat, b. 1848 Franklin Parish, LA, d. 1850 Richland Parish, LA
3. Mariah A. W. Choat, b. bet. 1804-1810 Bath Co., KY, d. Abt. 1840; m.
Creed T. Glover 28 January 1814 Bath Co., KY.
4. Eleanor Choat (This is the suspected Eleanor, but have no proof.) Nancy
Eleanor G. Choat b. 30 July 1799 Bath Co., KY, d. 3 March 1877 Livingston
Co., MO; m. Benjamin D. Knox. Eleanor and Benjamin were members of the
Shaker religion in South Union, KY. They were released from the Society on
20 December 1835, and married 25 December 1835 in South Union, KY. They were
listed on the 1840 Stewart Co., TN Census records. Then moved on to
Livingston Co, MO around 1844. Richard Choat was also listed in Stewart Co.,
TN at this time. During the time Eleanor was associated with the Shaker
family, Augustine gave several slave their freedom.
5. Augustine H. Choat, b. bet. 1800-1810 Bath Co., KY m. Elizabeth McAlister
5 November 1831 Claiborne Co., MS. It is believed Catherine (Isaac's wife)
and Elizabeth were sisters. I have found no other information on this couple.
6. Margaret Choat, b. 11 February 1810 Bath Co., KY, d. 29 June 1869
Missouri (Note Eleanor was also in Missouri at this time) m. James H.
Epperson 11 December 1833 in Bath Co., KY.
7. John W. Choat, b. Abt. 1805 Bath Co., KY, d. Abt. 1880 m. Mary Unknown
(may have been Mountjoy?)
1858 -- Bath Co, KY Deed Book U, Page 696 -- Bought property on Salt Lick
from Jarrett and Margaret Montjoy for $900.00. It bordered the following
properties: Greenup, McMurtrey, Trumbull, Tomlinson. 10/17/1858
Son Thomas married Amanda Mountjoy. Daughter Mary T. married Alfred J.
Roberts.
8. Richard (This is the suspected Richard, but have no proof) Richard Miller
Choat, b. 18 November 1804 d. 7 December 1871 Trigg Co., KY. First wife is
unknow, Second wife is Christian Unknown. He appears on the 1830-1850
Stewart Co., TN Census. 1859 -- Ferguson Spring Poll Book, Trigg Co., KY, 1
August 1859 R. M. Choat, page 266 of "Handbook of Trigg Co." Appears in
1860-1870 Trigg Co., KY Census records. One of Richard's daughters married a
Glover and some of his descendants migrated to the same area as Margaret
Choat Epperson, Mariah Choat Glover, and Elenor Choat Knox are found.
As you see, I have many missing information. I have documentation from
Christopher b. 9/4/1642 Rivenhall Parish, England to Richard b. 11/8/1722
"Choate's Fancy", Baltimore Co., MD. Richard is the suspected father of
Augustine, Sr. I have found a reference to Richard's death in Halifax Co.,
VA (1763 - Halifax Co., VA Court Orders 1763-1764, Plea Book #4, Page 131 --
James Rentfro, assignee of Daniel Richardson, Plt, vs. Richard Choat, Deft,
In Debt. The attachment awarded to the Plt against the Deft's estate being
returned executed on 1 tomahawk, this day came the Plt by his atty, and the
Deft not appearing to replevy the attached effects, ordered that the Plt.
recover against te Deft the sum of 9 L 18 shillings & 9 pence 1/2, the debt
in the declaration mentioned. And the Plt. agrees to release to the Deft.
sd. attached effects.). Then I have documentation from my father to
Augustine, Jr. These two Augustine's are my stumbling block.
If there is any other that is researching this family, please contact me so
we can compare notes.
Shawn Choat Martin
smarcmar(a)aol.com
Page 205
THE CHOATES IN AMERICA.
ment; when turning from the corners and dark places of offensiveness,
if such the candle lighted by malignity, or envy, or censoriousness, or
truth has revealed anywhere ; when, turning from these, we may go up
together to thc serene and secret mountain top, and there pause, and
there unite in the reverent exclamation and in the exultant prayer, 'How
beautiful at last are thy tabernacles! What people at last is like unto
thee! Peace be within thy palaces and joy within thy gates! The high
places are thine, and there shalt thou stand proudly and innocently, and
securely.' "
In this one paragraph the orator mounts "to the height of this
great argument "for national unity and peace. The unfolding of his
theme recalls the boldness of a Pindaric flight. It justifies to our
credulity the boast of Horace that he felt the pinions springing on his
shoulders. If we have ever seen the easy grace of that upward movement
rivalled [sic] it has been when we in the wonderland of childhood were
watching the flight of an eagle as he mounted into the skies, soaring
by means no more discoverable than his path through the viewless air,
swinging from side to side of that spiral way which led beyond our
sight, not the sign given of any effort made, not the curving of a wing
perceptible, at one time flashing his silver crown in the open sunlight,
at another time vanishing in the enveloping shadow of a cloud, to be
watched for and waited for by the patient, spell-bound eye at a point in
that symmetrical curve where that ever lessening form should again
reappear bathed in the splendor of day, relieved against a background of
night, until, raised above the region of clouds, in the cold, thin æther
of the heavens, it rested through a summer's noontide heat, rocked as it
were on the billows of air.
After a long, earnest, impassioned plea, a plea for harmony, for
peace, order, and the reconciliation of rights; a plea for union, -- for
the Union of the States, -- such a plea as on occasion he had made in
the courts a few years before for the sanctity of the marriage tie, when
he came to the close of his oration with words of hope, of high courage,
of whole-souled devotion to his country, to the country of his
listeners, expressions of fullest confidence in the patriotism of the
people, in the genius of liberty, of boundless faith in the providence
of God, these words so breathed the trusting spirit, the calmed
emotions, the reflective thoughts, that they slowly sank, gently,
softly, musically, into the low, sweet cadence of an evening song.
"But why, at last.'' said he, "do I exhort, and why do I seem to
fear, on such a day as this? Is it not the nation's birthday? Is it
not this country of our love and hopes which celebrates it? This music
of the glad march, these banners of pride and beauty, these memories so
fragrant, these resolutions of patriotism. so thoughtful, these hands
pressed, these congratulations and huzzaings, and tears, this great
heart throbbing audibly, -- are they not hers, and do they not assure
us? These forests of masts, these singing workshops of labor, these
fields and plantations whitening for the harvest, this peace and plenty,
this sleepier thunder, these bolts in the closed, strong talon, -- do
not they tell us of her health, her strength, and her future? This
shadow that flits across our grasses and is gone, this shallow ripple
that darkens; the surface of our broad and widening stream, and passes
away; little perturbation which our telescopes cannot find, and which
our science can hardly find, but which we know cannot change the course
or hasten the doom of one star, -- have these any terror for us? And He
who slumbers not, nor sleeps, who keeps watchfully the city of His love,
on whose will the life of nations is suspended, and to whom all the
shields of the earth belong, our father's God, is He not our God? And
of whom, then, and of what shall we be afraid?
"This shadow that flits across our grasses and is gone" was an allusion
easily understood when we recall that those words were spoken only three
years before the breaking out of the Civil War. It was, then, not
because the orator failed to appreciate the gravity of the situation
that he treated this as a trifle it was his purpose to reassure the
hearts of all with the firm belief that somehow the American Union was
going to withstand the fury of that storm whose shadow was even then
flitting across our grasses. He had for some time foreseen the coming
crisis. In Mr. Neilson's "Memories," p. 201, there is reported a
conversation between Mr. Choate and his son-in-law, Mr. Edward Ellerton
Pratt, in the summer of 1856. "They were sitting on the rocks at
Marblehead, and looking over the waters in which the frigate
'Constitution' was chased by British cruisers in the War of 1812-14.
Mr. Pratt says, 'In speaking of that war, the question arose as to the
next struggle in which this country might be engaged. Mr. Choate said,
"I shall not probably live to see it, but I fear there will ere long be
a civil war between the North and the South." I expressed my
Page 207
THE CHOATES IN AMERICA.
There can be no doubt that it had long been a fondly-cherished plan of
the advo-cate to devote some portion of his maturer years to
literature. When he was abroad in 1850, attracted by more than the
Europe of this century can offer, be defined this purpose, "to gather up
these moments, consolidate and mould them into something worthy of
myself, which may do good where I am not known, and live when I shall
have ceased to live -- a thoughtful and soothing and rich printed
page." And at another time he ,wrote, "Some memorial I would leave yet,
rescued from the grave of a mere professional life, some wise, or
beautiful, or interesting page, -- something of utility to America,
which I love more every pulse that beats."
This sentiment of patriotism, this love for his country, as of his home,
the home of his kindred and friends, a yearning for the familiar scenes
of his earlier and his later life, breathes in all he wrote while he was
abroad in 1850. He was evidently contem-plating, if not preparing, some
treatise -- possibly upon the early history of our free institutions.
He left these plans unaccomplished with regret; but he needed not to
entertain any fear of "the grave of a mere professional life." What he
himself said of the orators of the Revolutionary period can now, with
perfect propriety, be said of him: "Of that series of spoken eloquence
all is perished; not one reported sentence has come down to us. The
voice through which the rising spirit of a young nation sounded out its
dream of life is hushed. The great spokesman, of an age unto an age, is
dead. And yet, of those lost words is not our whole America one immortal
record and reporter? Do ye not read them, deep cut, defying the tooth
of time, on all the marble of our greatness? How they blaze on the
pillars of our Union! How is their deep sense unfolded and interpreted
by every passing hour! how do they come to life, and grow audible, as it
were, in the brightening rays of the light he foresaw, as the fabled
invisible harp, gave out its music to the morning!"
Two years ago it was reported that by the "'will of Mary W. Hyde,
of New York, the city of Boston was to receive the sum of fourteen
thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a statue of Rufus Choate.
When the intent of the testator shall be carried out, we may hope to see
the presentment of the man as described by William W. Story, the poet
and the artist, -- to see --
". . . the clustering hair
And flashing eyes of Choate, whose rare
Full-worded eloquence bad power to thrill
And move and mould his hearers at his will."
Then once more, in visible form, in enduring bronze, will Choate be
grouped with Webster and with Everett, here, in the city of his love, --
of their love; -- amid the scenes of their unenvying rivalry in learning
and in eloquence. as Mr. Story has so picturesquely grouped them in his
verse: --
"In Massachusetts of our later years
Three men have lived pre-eminent in fame,
Your statesmen they; This one the kingly name
Of our DEFENDER won, when doubts and fears
Shook our sad hearts; That, as the morn appears
Through lustrous clouds; and on his silvery tongue
Sweet, rich and lull, persuasive accents hung:
THE OTHER, as amid the flaming spheres
A constellation, glittering with the light
Of many a star, illuminates the night:
Living, they were the lions of their kind;
Dead, as they rest, each in his honored grave,
Though creatures at their memory rave,
Stand, and will stand, three monuments of mind."
Early in the spring of 1859 Mr. Choate was forced by increasing illness
to withdraw from the practice of his profession. He had been failing
for many months, possibly for some years, a sufferer from Bright's
disease, then little understood. He fancied that a short residence in
England -- The Isle of Wight seemed most attractive to him -- might
alleviate his disorder. Passage was secured on a steamer which was to
leave Boston about the middle of May. Not feeling himself equal to the
voyage at [continued next page]
Page 206
THE CHOATES IN AMERICA.
horror at such an idea, and asked how that could be possible. Said he,
"It is a very easy thing to get up such a conflict when one large
section of the country, inflamed by interest, pride, and resentment, is
hostile and united. We at the North, if we wished, could bring it
about; so could they of the South; and the adverse feeling is getting
so bitter that one side or the other may provoke the issue. If the
Democrats, now about to elect Buchanan, have prudence and good temper,
they can tide the trouble over for a while, perhaps until there may come
a better understanding and more friendly feeling. But I fear they will
not show such moderation and prudence." Mr. Choate appeared to think it
probable that within ten years a civil war would break out, and told me
that it would be my duty, the duty of all, to do what was possible to
maintain the Union, whether war could or could not be averted.' "
Mr. Choate was spared the realization of these anxious fears.
Elsewhere in this volume will be told what his only son, and what the
husband of his oldest daughter did "to maintain the Union," when war
could no longer be averted. Had he lived he would cheerfully have made
the great sacrifice.
In all his previous life Rufus Choate had been closely identified
with the old Whig party. He had served it with fidelity, had joined in
its rallies, and rejoiced in its victories; at its hands had he received
his civic honors. In the Senate and on the stump had he advocated the
measures which that party upheld. When, therefore, he decided to vote
for Buchanan, -- his conversation reveals the misgivings with which that
vote was to be cast, -- the course which he then took led him apart from
most of his former associates. It was an early instance of independent
voting, a feature of our politics which has become familiar in later
times. It exposed him in the last years of his life to much harsh,
censorious criticism. To this William Winter lately referred when he
said, "During the latter part of Choate's life, and at the time of his
death, detraction, always busy with shining names, was audible in his
disfavor." But time has softened the feelings of men, has refined and
mellowed their judgment, until now they can find in his speeches the
wisdom of the statesman in his conduct the self-sacrificing devotion of
the patriot. Most beautifully is this latter character recognized in
"The Patriot's Birthplace," a poem which its distinguished author, Mrs.
James T. Fields, tells me was written with direct reference to that old
homestead on Choate Island : --
. . . . . . . . .
"Wide across the Continent
Speaks the patriot's deathless word;
Blossoms on the rocky hills,
In the vales is heard.
" 'I will give the Morning Star
To him,' the Lord saith, 'who shall keep
My work unfailing to the end,
Nor ever slothful sleep.'
. . . . . . . . .
"Built up of our larger hope,
Of equal laws and equal right,
Of equal hope shall only oceans bind,
Nor ages quench his light"
Along with the public service of Mr. Choate in Congress must be classed
his labors in behalf of the Smithsonian Institution. He had devised and
advocated what was known as the "Library Plan." This provided for a
collection of books, of objects of art, ancient and modern, worthy the
nation's capital. In urging this plan he was following the bent of his
literary, scholastic and artistic tastes. -- he had long appreciated the
real condition of literature and art in this country. As early as 1823
he wrote, "How wretchedly adapted is our American liberal education and
our subsequent course of life, to form and mature a mind of so much
depth, taste, and beautiful enlargement. How vulgar and untaught we
generally are with all our unquestionable natural capacity." With these
strong sentiments for liberal training he was elected a member of the
first Board of Regents of the Smithsonian in 1846. In the course of a
few years the management of the Institution fell into the control of
those who favored the claims of science over those of literature. In
1854 Mr. Choate resigned. [continued next page.]