diff --git a/Notes.md b/Notes.md index 8cc3ee0..306300d 100644 --- a/Notes.md +++ b/Notes.md @@ -4,12 +4,73 @@ # Eben Norton Horsford -- Was born in Moscow, NY, July 27, 1818 [@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103] -- Died in Cambridge, MA, January 1, 1893 [@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103] -- His grandfather on his mother's side fought in the Revolutionary War [@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103] -- His father had moved to Moscow NY as a missionary to the Seneca Indians [@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103] -- "He was sent to the best schools" : [@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104] *(which?)* +- Was born in Moscow, NY, July 27, 1818 (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103) +- Died in Cambridge, MA, January 1, 1893 (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103) +- His grandfather on his mother's side fought in the Revolutionary War + (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103) +- His father had moved to Moscow NY as a missionary to the Seneca Indians + (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.103) + - A large part of his Norumbega thesis was how Norse words could be found in + American Indian place names; perhaps this experience with natives gave him + inspiration or confidence. +- "[Horsford] grew up with strong scholarly tastes, and was known to his + playmates as a marvel of general information. It is interesting to note that + a favorite amusement was collecting the fossils which abounded on his + father's farm, as this recreation of his boyhood undoubtedly turned his + thoughts toward the natural sciences, to which so large a part of his manhood + was devoted, while at the same time his early association with the Seneca + Indians, who flocked ot his father's house in large numbers, familiarized him + with Indian words and pronunciation, and this paved the way for the + philological and archaeological studies of his older years." : (@JackHors92, + p.340) + - As above, a shadow of his later interests can be seen already in the + hobbies of his early years. +- "He was sent to the best schools, and at the age of nineteen graduated as a + civil engineer from the Renseelaer Institute of Trow, New York" : + (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104) + - Had good education, somewhat wealthy parents. +- "He was then employed on the Geological Survey of the State of New York" : + (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104) + - Had some experience with geographic survey, possibly what gave him + confidence in his archaeological pursuits. +- "In 1844 he went to Germany to study chemistry, and spent two years at + Giessen under Baron Liebig" : (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104) +- "He usually spent his summers at Shelter Island, New York, in the old manor + house, which had belonged to his wife's family. He interested himself in + studying the antiquity of the island, and erected a monument to the Quakers, + who found shelter there from Puritan persecution." : (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104) + - Another instance of Horsford being interested in history, erecting + monuments. Seems like a hobby of his. + - Also has religious elements, just as the Norumbega myth & Protestantism + vs. Catholicism. +- "In the comparative leisure of his later years he became deeply interested in + endeavoring to trace the routes of the Northmen, who early visited this + continent." : (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104) + - Had a lot of free time, was used to doing research as his job and as his hobby. + - Seems he was genuinely interested, wasn't being paid or anything. +- "He studied the sagas, pored over the ancient charts, explored the coast of + New England, and at length became assured that he found, in Cambridge, the + location of the house built by Leif Ericson, and that at Watertown, on the + Charles River, he had discovered the long-lost Norumbega, the settlement of + the Icelandic voyagers. Here he erected a substantial stone tower to mark the + spot." : (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.104-5) + - Seems he did extensive research, and thought he was being objective, + though probably biased as he lived in Cambridge. + - The biographer takes a pretty neutral tone as to the veracity of Eben's + claim here; seems nobody believed/nobody cared about his ideas after he + died. + - Again, just as in the Quaker thing above, he likes erecting monuments. +- "In 1891 the Scandinavian societies of North America, in testimony of their + appreciation of his efforts to demonstrate the discovery and colonization of + America by the Northmen, presented him, in their annual assembly, an + engrossed address, framed in wood from Norway, and elaborately carved by a + Norwegian lady. In 1892 the king of Denmark created him a Knight Commander of + the third grade of the Order of Danneborg." : (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.105) + - Seems his ideas were well-received by former Vikings. +- "Wellesley College was the object of his largest benefactions (...) He + enlarged and endowed the college library, and provided a fund for scientific + apparatus." : (@AdamsMemBiog08, p.105) + - Seems he made good of his wealth from baking soda. \pagebreak - # References