Henry K. Oliver

Henry Kemble Oliver
21st Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts[1]
In office
1877[1]–1880[1]
Preceded byHenry L. Williams
Succeeded bySamuel Calley
Majority297[2]
26th Massachusetts Treasurer
In office
1861–1866
Preceded byMoses Tenney, Jr.
Succeeded byJacob Loud
5th Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts[1]
In office
1859–1859
Preceded byJohn R. Rollins[2]
Succeeded byDaniel Saunders, Jr.[2]
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives[1]
In office
1859[1]–1859[1]
Superintendent of Schools of
Lawrence, Massachusetts[3]
In office
1857[3]–1859[3]
Preceded byA. Williams[3]
Succeeded byGeorge Packard[3]
Member of the
Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1853
In office
1853–1853
Personal details
BornThomas Henry Oliver
(1800-11-24)November 24, 1800[4]
Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.[4]
DiedAugust 12, 1885(1885-08-12) (aged 84)
Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.
PartyRepublican[1][2]
Spouse
Sally Cook
​
(m. 1825)​
ChildrenSamuel Cook Oliver;
Henry Kemble Oliver
Alma materDartmouth College,[5] Harvard
ProfessionTeacher, cotton merchant
Signature

Henry Kemble Oliver (November 24, 1800 – August 12, 1885) was an American who served as the 5th Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts, the 21st Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives,[1] the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, and as the 26th Treasurer of Massachusetts. He was also a composer of hymns, having written the much-anthologized "Federal Street" tune and "Morning," both published in editions of The Sacred Harp.

Early life

Oliver was born to Daniel and Elizabeth (Kemble) Oliver on November 24, 1800, in North Beverly, Massachusetts.[4] Originally named Thomas Henry, Oliver's name was changed, by the legislature, in 1821 to that of his mother's brother who had died in 1802.[4]

Oliver entered Phillips Academy, Andover in 1811 and Harvard College in the fall of 1814, however because Harvard was becoming overly Unitarian in its views[5] and also more expensive,[5] Oliver left Harvard after his sophomore year and transferred to Dartmouth College entering Dartmouth's Junior class in the fall of 1816.[5] Oliver graduated from Dartmouth College.[5] Oliver also received a degree Ad eundem from Harvard. At the age of 25, in 1825, Oliver joined the Unitarian church. The same year, he married Sally Cook, and they had seven children.[6]

In 1844 Oliver was appointed the Adjutant General of Massachusetts by Governor George N. Briggs.[1]

Beyond his political career, Oliver was a musician, singing bass, playing organ at several churches, and composing. Earlier in life, he had also played the bass, bassoon, and flute. His original hymn tunes include "Harmony Grove," "Merton," and "Saxony." His music was popular: The Sacred Harp's 1911 edition reports of his most popular work, "'Federal Street' was rendered under his leadership at the Peace Jubilee 1872 by 20,000 singers in Boston. The audience of 40,000 singers joining with them."[7] He received honorary degrees from Harvard (AB and AM) in 1862 and from Dartmouth (MusD) in 1883.[8]

He died at his home in Salem on August 12, 1885.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1888), History of Essex County, Massachusetts: with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, vol. I, Philadelphia, PA: J.W. Lewis & Co., p. 240, retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Internet Archive
  2. 1 2 3 4 Wadsworth, Horace Andrew (1880), History of Lawrence, Massachusetts: with Portraits and Biographical Sketches, Lawrence, Ma.: Lawrence Eagle Steam Job Printing Office, p. 117, retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Internet Archive
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Wadsworth, Horace Andrew (1880), History of Lawrence, Massachusetts: with Portraits and Biographical Sketches, Lawrence, Ma.: Lawrence Eagle Steam Job Printing Office, p. 132, retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Internet Archive
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1888), History of Essex County, Massachusetts: with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, vol. I, Philadelphia, PA: J.W. Lewis & Co., p. 238, retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Internet Archive
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1888), History of Essex County, Massachusetts: with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, vol. I, Philadelphia, PA: J.W. Lewis & Co., p. 239, retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Internet Archive
  6. 1 2 "Historical Record". The Bay State Monthly. Vol. 3, no. 4. September 1885. Retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Project Gutenberg.
  7. ↑ White, B. F.; King, E. J.; James, J. S. (1911). Original Sacred Harp: Containing a Superior Collection of Standard Melodies of Odes, Anthems, and Church Music, and Hymns of High Repute; Rudiments, Retaining All Valuable Standard Regulations, Arranged with All Modern Up-to-Date Improvements. Atlanta, Georgia: United Sacred Harp Musical Association. p. 163.
  8. ↑ Metcalf, Frank J. (1925). American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music. New York: Abingdon Press. pp. 231–232.
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