1837.
NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS died at Idlewild, his home on the Hudson River, Jan 20, 1867, aged 60 years. He was the son of Nathaniel Willis, and was born in Portland, Me., Jan 20, 1807. His father removed to Boston in 1813, and his preparation for College was made at the Latin School of that city, and Phillips Academy, Andover. While an under-graduate he published, under the signature of "Roy," a series of Poems, entitled "Scripture Sketches," and immediately, upon his graduation, became connected with the editorship of the Legendary and the Token, journals published by Mr S G Goodrich. In 182S he established the American Monthly Magazine which, after a little more than two years, was united with the New York Mirror, edited by George P. Morris. Soon afterward he went to Europe, where he remained a number of years, a contributor to American and English periodicals. His "Pencilings by the Way," the record of his quite extensive travels, were originally published in the Mirror. He returned home in 1837, and after two years spent in Agricultural and Literary pursuits near Owego, N. Y., he became associated with Dr. Porter, in the Editorship of the Corsair, a weekly journal. In 1839 he made a second visit to England, and remained abroad until 1844, publishing, meantime, "Letters from under a Bridge," and other writings. On his return he established, in connection with his former associate, Gen. Morris, the Evening Mirror, a daily newspaper, but the death of his wife, and his own failing health, soon carried him abroad a third time. Returning in 1846, he again joined Mr. Morris in a literary enterprise, the establishment of the Home Journal, and with this journal, which proved highly successful, he remained in connection until his death. Besides his regular editorial contributions, Mr. Willis found time for several volumes, published for the most part between 1850 and 1860.
He was married, in 1835, to Miss Mary Leighton Stace, daughter of General William Stace, at that time in command of the Arsenal at Woolwich, Eng., and in 1846, to Miss Cornelia Grinnell, daughter of Hon. Joseph Grinnell, of New Bedford, Mass. Of the first marriage one daughter, and of the second, several children were born.
