Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in education, aside from his special work
at Gallaudet College, as a trustee of
George Washington University and How-
ard University ; in religion, as a trustee
and elder in the Church of the Covenant
and director and president of the Young
Men's Christian Association; in literature
and science, as a member of the Literary
Society, the Historical Society, and many
other organizations, in most of which he
was honored with the highest offices.
Among his intimate friends were the best
men distinguished in political and social
life.
In 1910, after fifty-four years of active
service, Dr. Gallaudet retired from the
presidency of the college, and in 191 1 he
returned to Hartford to live. Soon after
this change of residence he was elected
a member of the board of directors of the
American School for the Deaf in Hart-
ford. The centennial celebration of the
founding of this school was held in July,
1917, and in connection with the celebra-
tion the Convention of American Instruc-
tors of the Deaf, the American Associa-
tion of the Deaf, and the Alumni of Gal-
laudet College held meetings in Hartford.
The members of these bodies all looked
upon Dr. Gallaudet as their father and
guide, and on this occasion showed their
esteem and affection for him personally
while commemorating the work of his
honored father.
The declining years of this great and
good man were passed in the city of his
birth, and to the very last he was eager
and interested in its affairs. He died
September 26, 1917, and the closing of his
life was the closing of a long record of
good deeds and charitable acts.
Dr. Gallaudet married (first) Jennie M.
Fessenden, of Hartford, and after her
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
laudet, of Hartford ;
death married (second) Susy Denison, of Massachusetts, settlement. A fellow-
Royalton, Vermont. He leaves three sons voyager was Thomas Lincoln, son of
and three daughters: Katharine F. Gal- Samuel Lincoln, and brother-in-law of
in
Mrs.
William B.
Den-
Closson, of Newton, Massachusetts ;
ison and Edson F. Gallaudet, aeroplane
manufacturers of East Greenwich, Rhode
Island ; Rev. Herbert D. Gallaudet, now
an officer in the National army of the
United States ; and Mrs. John W. Edgerton,
of New Haven.
Dr. Gallaudet succeeded to- a high de-
gree in his work, and to-day the Gallaudet
College at Washington and the thousands
of graduates throughout the world bear
testimony to his success. For his was the
faith that increases confidence, carries
conviction, and multiplies ability. He
knew that faith does not think or guess
but sees the way out, and is not discouraged
or blinded by mountains of diffi-
culties, because it sees through them to
the goal beyond. It can be said of Edward
Miner Gallaudet, as was said of another
great man : "The elements so mixed in
him that Nature might stand up and say
to all the world, 'This is a man'."
JACOBS, Ward Windsor,
Financier, Civil War Veteran.
Ward Windsor Jacobs, treasurer of the
Mechanics Savings Bank, Hartford, was
born in Mansfield, Connecticut, June 13,
1839, the son of Leonard Warren and Albina
(Walton) Jacobs.
Records of the Jacobs family will be
found contained in the archives of the
early colonial administrations of this
country. The progenitor, Nicholas Ja-
cobs, of the American branches of the
family, was born in Hanover, Suffolk
county, England, son of John Jacobs.
The year 1633 saw him and his son John
and daughter Elizabeth emigrate from
Hingham, England, to the Hingham,