The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

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In 1815 he sailed again for Europe, his companions in travel being George
Ticknor and Edward Everett. He remained abroad, travelling widely, for four
or five 3-ears, after whicii he returned, arriving in Boston Oct. 29, 1820. Dur-
ing his absence, in 1817, his mother died. Shortly after his return he received
the appointment of Librarian and Professor of Mineralogy and Geology in
Harvard College.
In the autumn of 1823 Mr. Cogswell and Mr. George Bancroft, since
known as a historian, established a school for the more thorough teaching of
boys. This school was located at Round Hill, Northampton, Mass. It became
incorporated as the "Round Hill Institution." In 1823 Mr. Cogswell was the
sole Principal. The enterprise became involved, and after an e.xistence of some
ten years was abandoned in 1834. Mr. Cogswell accepted an appointment to
take charge of a school in Raleigh, N. C, in May. 1834, where he remainetl
until 1837. He then sailed the fifth time for Europe, and upon his return.
in 1S38, he look up his residence in New York, and became the confidential
adviser of Mr. John Jacob .^stor in establishing the Astor Library. To this
enterprise he became entirely devoted, making several trips to Europe for the
purchase of books and to examine European libraries.
.After the death of Mr. .Astor. in 1848, Mr. Cogswell received the appoint-
ment of Superintendent of the .Astor Library. This position he continued to
fill until 1861, when he named a successor, and retired to Cambridge, Mass.
He there spent the evening of his days in the quiet of his own home, near to
the college he so much loved. In his later years he received the care and
affectionate attentions of Rev. and Mrs. Haskins, who were family relatives.
Mrs. Hasliins being a niece of his lamented wife, of whom he was bereft when
their married life had hardly begun. Mr. Cogswell, while living in Cambridge,
made an occasional trip to New York, to visit the Astor Library and his numer
ous friends. He died at the age of eighty-five years, and was buried in Ipswich,
Mass.
Prof. Cogswell, in the course of his active and useful life, made nine trips to
Europe. He was the real originator of the Astor Library in New York City,
accomplished a great work for Harvard College, and was the prime mover in
establishing and carrying forward the Round Hill School for ten years, where
were educated some of the most eminent and literary men of that period. In
1831 a list of the students at Round Hill was published, and contained two
hundred and ninety-three names.
At the age of eighty-four years Mr. Cogswell remarks " : 1 have reason for
gratitude to God. I am not sensible of any failure in my mental faculties, or
coldness in my aft'eclions. My self-love has not increased, nor my love of
friends diminished. The pleasures of active life are gone, but those of a tran
quil, contemplative one are all left to me." His death occurred on Sunday,
Nov. 26, 1 87 1.
An appropriate Memorial N'olume of Prof. Joseph Green Cogswell, LL. D.,
was published in 1S74 by Miss Anna E. Ticknor, in an edition of two hundred
and twenty-two copies, for private distribution among friends.