Rev. William Hosmer (May 27, 1810 – July 17, 1889) was an American anti-slavery author and editor, and a Methodist minister.
Biography edit
Hosmer was born on May 27, 1810, near the town of Brimfield, Massachusetts, to Eleazer and Clara (Needham) Hosmer.[1] He studied at the Franklin Academy in Plattsburgh, New York.[1]
In 1831 Hosmer was admitted as a probationer to the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Church, and was ordained as a minister two years later.
Between 1848 and 1856 Hosmer was the editor of the Northern Christian Advocate newspaper, owned by the Methodist General Conference.[1] Hosmer was a strong believer in Wesleyan philosophy, and during his incumbency at the Advocate he was a strong advocate for both antislavery and temperance issues.[1] Due to a schism within the Methodist church, his stance eventually led to his replacement as editor in June 1856 by Rev. F. G. Hibbard.[1] Following his removal from the Northern Christian Advocate, a new paper called The Northern Independent was established and Hosmer appointed as its editor. Hosmer remained editor of The Northern Independent until "stricken by paralysis ... while delivering a temperance address" in 1871.[1][2] He also wrote articles and essays for other periodicals, including the Methodist Quarterly Review.[1]
Hosmer was a charter trustee of the Genesee College in Lima, New York, which later became Syracuse University.[1][3]
He died in his home in Auburn, New York, on the morning of Monday, June 17, 1889.[3]
Family edit
Hosmer married Martha Matilde Gamage (21 October 1813 – 21 December 1878)[4] sometime before 1835.[5][6] Together they had six surviving children:[1]
Select bibliography edit
- The higher law, in its relations to civil government : with particular reference to slavery, and the Fugitive Slave Law (Auburn: Derby & Miller, 1952),[7] dedicated to William Seward.[1]
- Slavery and the church (Auburn: W.J. Moses, 1853)[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lincoln, Joni (2005). Life and Activities of Reverend William Hosmer (PDF). Auburn: Cayuga County Historian's Office.
- ^ "Brief Obituary". Auburn Daily Advertiser. Auburn, New York. 18 June 1889.
- ^ a b "Rev William Hosmer departs this Life Yesterday Morning". Auburn Dispatch. Auburn. 18 June 1889.
- ^ Haight-Eckert, Mary Jane. "Rev William Hosmer". Find A Grave. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g New York, State Census, 1855. FamilySearch. 1855. pp. 14–15.
- ^ Haight-Eckert, Mary Jane. "Martha Matilde Gamage Hosmer". Find A Grave. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ a b Work, Monroe N. (1928). A Bibliography of the Negro in Africa and America. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company. ISBN 978-1-57898-079-6.
External links edit
Media related to William Hosmer at Wikimedia Commons