William Dummer Northend

Parents:

• Father: John Northend.
• Mother: Anna Titcomb Northend.

Burial location: Grove Ave. Lot #378, Grave #2.

William D. Northend was descended from two of the earliest families to arrive in Massachusetts from England, the Sewells and the Longfellows. Born in Byfield, Massachusetts on February 26, 1823, he received his early education at Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, and then graduated in 1843 from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He studied law under Ashael Huntington in Salem and was admitted to the Essex County Massachusetts Bar in 1845.

On November 2, 1846 he married Susan Stedman. The couple had four children: Louisa Huntington, Mary Harrod, Susan Stedman and William Wheelwright. William practiced law in Salem; this led to his becoming involved in state and local politics. He served in the Massachusetts State Senate in 1861 and 1862. During the Civil War he was one of a group called Copperheads who argued in favor of protecting minority rights over the tyranny of the majority.

In 1869 he published a book which contained his speeches, as well as a series of essays. It was called Speeches and Essays Upon Political Subjects 1860-1869. After the war, he continued to practice law. He served as President of the Essex County Bar Association in the 1880’s, as well as serving as an Overseer of Bowdoin College and as a trustee of Dummer Academy. He collected autographs of well-known late nineteenth century political, literary, publishing, education and military figures. He also kept a scrapbook of letters regarding Civil war and Reconstruction politics from prominent northern Democrats as well as from southern leaders, including Jefferson Davis, and Alexander Stephens. The letters focus on the political activities of Radical Republicans.

William Dummer Northend died on October 29, 1902.

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Photo: State Library of Massachusetts

Sources Consulted:

• Emory University, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript Archives and Rare Book Library. Northend, William Dummer , 1823-1902. William Dummer Northend Family Papers, 1673-1965. Manuscript collection no. 338.
• snaccopperative.org/history/65323368/9549918 Northend, William Dummer 1823-1902.