William Stoddard
Encyclopedia
William Osborn Stoddard was an author, inventor, and assistant secretary to Abraham Lincoln
during his first term.
Stoddard was born at Homer, Courtland Co., New York. His parents were Prentice S. and Sarah (Osborn) Stoddard. Stoddard attended the University of Rochester
, where he graduated cum laude. On 25 Jul 1870 Stoddard married Susan Eagleson Cooper; they had five children. Stoddard died in Madison, New Jersey
.
Stoddard's father was a bookseller, and Stoddard worked in his bookshop while growning up. After graduation, Stoddard was employed in an “editorial position” in 1857 at the Daily Ledger (Chicago); by 1858 he had become editor and proprietor of the Central Illinois Gazette, in Champaign, Illinois
.
Stoddard knew Lincoln, worked hard for his election, and received a government appointment. He first served as a clerk in the Interior Department. On July 15, 1861, he was appointed "Secretary to the President to sign land patents". After a brief period of service in the Army, Stoddard became Assistant private secretary to Lincoln and "one of three people doing all the White House clerical work during the early Lincoln administration". Preparation of a digest of newspaper articles was one of his original responsibilities; it was stopped because, according to Stoddard, "Mr. Lincoln never found time to spend an hour upon laborious condensations." He personally made the first copy of the draft Emancipation Proclamation
in September 1862.
After two bouts with typhoid, Stoddard left his White House
post in July 1864. On 24 Sept 1864 he was appointed United States Marshal for Arkansas
; however, in 1865 he resigned for health reasons. He moved to New York City and worked on Wall Street. He entered government service again from 1871–73, this time for the government of New York City. He was a clerk for the Department of Docks.
Stoddard first published work in 1869. He wrote both poetry and fiction, ultimately producing over a hundred books, including 76 books for boys.
Stoddard also received nine patents for inventions.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
during his first term.
Stoddard was born at Homer, Courtland Co., New York. His parents were Prentice S. and Sarah (Osborn) Stoddard. Stoddard attended the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, where he graduated cum laude. On 25 Jul 1870 Stoddard married Susan Eagleson Cooper; they had five children. Stoddard died in Madison, New Jersey
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
.
Stoddard's father was a bookseller, and Stoddard worked in his bookshop while growning up. After graduation, Stoddard was employed in an “editorial position” in 1857 at the Daily Ledger (Chicago); by 1858 he had become editor and proprietor of the Central Illinois Gazette, in Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
.
Stoddard knew Lincoln, worked hard for his election, and received a government appointment. He first served as a clerk in the Interior Department. On July 15, 1861, he was appointed "Secretary to the President to sign land patents". After a brief period of service in the Army, Stoddard became Assistant private secretary to Lincoln and "one of three people doing all the White House clerical work during the early Lincoln administration". Preparation of a digest of newspaper articles was one of his original responsibilities; it was stopped because, according to Stoddard, "Mr. Lincoln never found time to spend an hour upon laborious condensations." He personally made the first copy of the draft Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
in September 1862.
After two bouts with typhoid, Stoddard left his White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
post in July 1864. On 24 Sept 1864 he was appointed United States Marshal for Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
; however, in 1865 he resigned for health reasons. He moved to New York City and worked on Wall Street. He entered government service again from 1871–73, this time for the government of New York City. He was a clerk for the Department of Docks.
Stoddard first published work in 1869. He wrote both poetry and fiction, ultimately producing over a hundred books, including 76 books for boys.
Stoddard also received nine patents for inventions.
Works
- Dismissed (1878)
- The Heart of It (1880)
- Dab Kinzer (1881)
- Esau Hardery (1882)
- Saltillo Boys (1882)
- Talking Leaves (1882)
- Among the Lakes (1883)
- Wrecked? (1883)
- Life of Abraham Lincoln (1884)
- Two Arrows (1886)
- The Lives of the Presidents (10 vols. 1886-9)
- The Red Beauty (1889)
- Inside the White House in War Times (1890)
- The Table Talk of Lincoln (1894)
- On the Old Frontier (1895)
- The Windfall (1896)