William Stoddard

William Osborn Stoddard (1835–1925) was an American author, inventor, and assistant secretary to Abraham Lincoln during his first term.

William Stoddard
Born
William Osborn Stoddard

(1835-09-24)September 24, 1835
Homer, New York
DiedAugust 29, 1925(1925-08-29) (aged 89)
Madison, New Jersey
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse(s)
Susan Eagleson Cooper
​
​
(m. 1870)​
Children5
Signature

Biography

Stoddard was born at Homer, New York on September 24, 1835. His parents were Prentice S. and Sarah (Osborn) Stoddard.[1] Stoddard attended the University of Rochester, where he graduated cum laude. On July 25, 1870 Stoddard married Susan Eagleson Cooper; they had five children.[2]

Stoddard's father was a bookseller, and Stoddard worked in his bookshop while growing up. After graduation, Stoddard was employed in an "editorial position" in 1857 at the Daily Ledger (Chicago); by 1858 he had become editor and proprietor of the Central Illinois Gazette, in Champaign, Illinois.[1]

Stoddard knew Lincoln, worked hard for his election, and received a government appointment.[2] He first served as a clerk in the Interior Department. On July 15, 1861, he was appointed "Secretary to the President to sign land patents." After a brief period of service in the Army,[1] Stoddard became Assistant private secretary to Lincoln and "one of three people doing all the White House clerical work during the early Lincoln administration."[2] Preparation of a digest of newspaper articles was one of his original responsibilities; it was stopped because, according to Stoddard, "Mr. Lincoln never found time to spend an hour upon laborious condensations." He personally made the first copy of the draft Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862.

After two bouts with typhoid, Stoddard left his White House post in July 1864. On September 24, 1864 he was appointed United States Marshal for Arkansas; however, in 1865 he resigned for health reasons. He moved to New York City and worked on Wall Street. He entered government service again from 1871–73, this time for the government of New York City.[1] He was a clerk for the Department of Docks.[2]

Stoddard first published work in 1869.[1] He wrote both poetry and fiction, ultimately producing over a hundred books, including 76 books for boys.[2]

Stoddard also received nine patents for inventions.[2]

He died at his home in Madison, New Jersey on August 29, 1925.[3]

Works
Illustration of Two arrows - a story of red and white (1886)
The Lost Gold of the Montezumas: A Story of the Alamo (Illustration by Charles A. Stephens)
  • Dismissed (1878)
  • The Heart of It (1880)
  • Dab Kinzer (1881)
  • Esau Hardery (1882)
  • Saltillo Boys (1882)
  • Talking Leaves (1882)
  • Among the Lakes (1883)
  • Wrecked? (1883)
  • Life of Abraham Lincoln (1884)
  • Two arrows - a story of red and white (1886)
  • The Lives of the Presidents (10 vols. 1886-9)
  • The Red Beauty (1889)
  • Crowded Out o' Crofield (1890)
  • Inside the White House in War Times (1890)
  • The Red Mustang
  • The White Cave (1893)
  • The Table Talk of Lincoln (1894)
  • On the Old Frontier (1895)
  • Winter Fun (1895)
  • The Windfall (1896)
  • The Lost Gold of the Montezumas (1897)
  • With the Black Prince (1898)
  • The Despatch Boat of the Whistle A Story of Santiago (1899)
  • Ulric the Jarl (1899)
  • Ned, the Son of Webb (1900)
  • The Noank's Log (1900)
  • Ahead of the Army (1903)
  • The Village Champion (1903)

References
  1. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. VIII. James T. White & Company. 1924. pp. 121–122. Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. Dictionary of American Biography (Vol. IX–Part II). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 60.
  3. "New Jersey Man, Once Secretary To Lincoln, Dies". Sunday News. Madison, New Jersey. Associated Press. August 30, 1925. p. 28. Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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