GIDEON LEE.

AMONG the many distinguished sons of New England, she has none worthier to present to the rising generation, as a model of imitation, than he whose name furnishes the subject of this biographical notice-none who has attained to eminence with a more spotless character for integrity and uprightness, nor who discharged, in all the various duties of life, more faithfully the high requirements of a good citizen. Self-educated, and emphatically self-made, he rose to influence and distinction by the practice of those virtues which, in all time, must secure the respect and confidence of the good. He rose from poverty and obscurity to occupy, and worthily to fill, the most honorable stations in the gift of his fellow-citizens; and if a long life of great public and private usefulness, distinguished for honesty, industry, sobriety, benevolence, and, beyond this, an enthusiasm in the cause of education-of the moral and intellectual culture of the people-entitle him to be ranked as a patriot, that title is his.

To estimate truly the merit of such men, we must trace them through the struggles of early life-watch them in the dawnings of success, and afterward in the full career of prosperity. Few men can bear prosperity; and fewer still enlarge their sympathies in behalf of the human family, when in possession of the means, whatever may have been their intentions in the acquisition of them.

It is, therefore, pleasant to contemplate characters that, having passed through all the vicissitudes and gradations of fortune and station, still continue true to themselves. They are the green spots in life; are honorable to humani

ty, and fraught with wholesome example to their successors of a high elevation in that class, was the subject of

this sketch.

GIDEON LEE was born in the town of Amherst, in the State of Massachusetts, on the 27th of April, 1778. He lost his father when quite a child, and was left to the care of his mother, of whom he always spoke in terms of the warmest affection. While yet in infancy, he went to reside with an uncle, a farmer, in whose service he discharged the humble duties of looking after the cattle, and was employed in such other occupations as were suitable to his strength and age.

Suffering taught him reflection :-"I remember," said he in after life, "when I was a lad living with my uncle, it was my business to feed and milk the cows. And many a time, long before light in the morning, I was started off, in the cold and snow, without shoes, to my work, and used to think it a luxury to warm my frozen feet on the spot just before occupied by the animal I had roused. It taught me to reflect, and to consider possibilities; and I remember asking myself, Is it not possible for me to better my condition ?"

After remaining some time under the care and in the employment of his uncle, he was apprenticed to the tanning and shoemaking,-it being the practice then to conduct both branches by the same person-working at the former in the summer, and at the latter during the winter months. His genius, however, seemed better adapted to the tanning, for which department of the business he always retained a strong partiality. Up to this period his opportunities for acquiring knowledge were extremely limited: a few weeks schooling during the winter, and such books as accidentally fell in his way, were all the means vouchsafed to him. After learning his trade, or trades, he commenced business on his own account, in the town of Worthington, Mass.,

and by his industry and strict attention to it, soon won the regard and confidence of his neighbors. He was enabled to obtain credit for the purchase of leather, which he manufactured into shoes, always paying promptly for it at the period he had agreed. The first hundred dollars he earned, and that he could honestly call his own, he appropriated to educating himself at the Westfield Academy; and when that sum was exhausted, he again betook himself to his labor. His diligence and application were remarkable, usually working sixteen hours out of the twenty-four. An anecdote, which he used to relate of himself at this period, is worthy of being told, as illustrating two traits in Mr. Lee's character, which adhered to him through life; his great industry, and his resolution. He had "made a bargain with himself," as he expressed it, to "labor each day a certain number of hours, and nothing but sickness or inability should make him break the contract. It was known to my young friends in the neighborhood, and on some convivial occasion, a quilting frolic, I believe, they came to my shop and compelled me to leave my work and go with them; there being girls also in the deputation, my gallantry could not resist. I lost my night's rest in consequence, for the morning sun found me at work, redeeming the lost time." After gratifying his friends by spending the evening in their society, he returned to the shop to gratify himself, by not violating his faith.

The great points in Mr. Lee's character developed themselves early. They were a strong love for, and veneration of, truth—a high sense of honor, an independent and laborious mind as well as body, a heart that embraced in its charities the physical and moral welfare of his fellows, punctuality in the discharge of all his duties, a love of order and of system, and an indomitable perseverance in accomplishing whatever measure he undertook, first carefully investigating and discerning its propriety or useful

ness; these characteristics distinguished his whole course through life.

After prosecuting his business for some time in the manner detailed, he formed a partnership with a Mr. Hubbard ; subsequently they were burned out, and he lost what little property he had accumulated. He then dissolved with his partner, and removed to the city of New York. But before establishing himself permanently there, he made a voyage to St. Marys, Georgia, taking with him some small ventures of leather, and accompanying a party who went out for the purpose of cutting live-oak timber for the United States navy.

It

While there he was seized with the fever of the country, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. undermined his health, and so shattered his constitution, that, during the whole of his subsequent life, he constantly maintained a vigilant guard on his living, regulating his food, apparel, and exercise with the greatest exactness, and. watching the thermometer of his feelings and the weather, with as much care as the mariner does his compass. The adventure to St. Marys not proving a profitable one, he determined, after remaining there one winter, to return to New York. The vessel in which he took passage for home was wrecked off Cape Fear, and he barely saved himself with the few clothes he had on. Accompanied by a faithful friend named Smith, who had nursed him while sick at St. Marys, he had no other means of getting to the north than to trudge it on foot. The journey was a most tedious and dismal one; several days of it were through the pine barrens of North Carolina, not meeting with a house in a day's travel. Smith was a brother Yankee, and bore the hardships with great courage and good humor. Mr. Lee used to relate an anecdote of him, illustrating this latter trait, as well as the dismal character of the country through which they were traveling. "One day," said he, "we had

been trudging along, nothing to be seen but the pitch-pine forests, before and behind, and on both sides of us; shoes worn out, and our feet bleeding, myself before, and Smith following after; neither of us had exchanged a word for some time, when Smith suddenly spoke out in his nasal twang Mr. Lee! Well, Smith, well, what is it?' 'I wish I could hear it thunder! Hear it thunder! why do you wish so?" Because they say thunder is God's voice, and if I could only hear it thunder I should know I was on God's earth; as it is now, I don't know where I am.'”

He suffered much on this pedestrian journey; and before reaching New York, his money, the little that he had, was exhausted. The independence and sturdiness of his character manifested itself on an occasion toward the latter part of his travel, when wanting a supper and night's lodging, and no money to pay for them. He knocked at the door of a farmer, and, after explaining his circumstances, he proposed to chop enough wood to pay for his meal and lodging; which, being assented to by the farmer, he went to work and earned what his pride forbade him to accept as a charity.

In the year 1807, Mr. Lee married the daughter of Major Samuel Buffington, of Worthington, Mass., a distinguished soldier of the Revolution, and shortly after established himself in the city of New York, in the business in which he ultimately became so successful and eminent. He commenced in a little wooden shanty, in Ferry-street, still standing, which he called "Fort Lee;" where, as he expressed it, he "entrenched himself." The custom among the leather-dealers at that day was to sell on book account, and have annual settlements; he adopted a different plan, and instead of selling on account, he sold at lower prices, and took notes payable in bank. This was an innovation on an ancient custom, that was looked on with disfavor by his neighbors a revolution that they stoutly resisted. But,