DEATH OF HON. J0SL4H KENDALL BENNETT. 185 



He was an excellent scholar and a man possessed of high literary 

 attainments. By his studiousness he became an expert as a trans- 

 lator, and could read and translate fourteen or fifteen languages, 

 among them the Sanscrit, Norse and Anglo Saxon. A number of 

 his translations from the German and other languages have been 

 published ; and they were eagerly sought for by the press. He has 

 written for the Bibliotheca Sacra, Congregationalist and other papers, 

 and received the award for the prize article which he wrote for the 

 Bibliotheca Sacra. He has been a valuable contributor to this paper 

 for some time past. 



He served as one of the Trustees of Lawrence Academy for ten 

 years or more, and held a number of offices. He was a member of 

 the executive committee, committee of finance, examining committee, 

 and was secretary of the Board of Trustees, which offices he held at 

 the time of his death. He was a member of the Board of School 

 Committee of Groton, for a number of years, and closed his connec- 

 tion with the Board last fall. A large portion of the school reports 

 were written by him from year to year, extracts from which were fre- 

 quently incorporated in the report of the Board of Education. In 

 the earlier part of his hfe he taught school in Groton. He was a 

 member of the Groton Musical Association since 1858. He was 

 a member of the Orthodox church, clerk of the parish a number of 

 years, and had been superintendent of the Sabbath school. 



He was appointed Judge of the First District Court of Northern 

 Middlesex at Ayer, by Governor Washburn, July, 1872, which posi- 

 tion he held since the court has been established. It was a good 

 selection and he was admirably adapted for this post of honor. 



Owing to his continued ill health, and by the advice of his physi- 

 cian, he moved to Ayer with his family about two months ago. His 

 remains were taken to Groton for burial, and the funeral services were 

 held at the Orthodox church. By the request of Mr. Bennett, the 

 Rev. Wm. M. Parker of West Boylston, formerly the pastor of this 

 church, preached the sermon and his remarks of the deceased were 

 very appropriate and just. His death has cast a gloom over the 

 entire community. If he had lived till next month he would have 

 been forty-three years of age. He was a gentleman, a scholar, a 

 good citizen, a man of excellent judgment and good common sense. 

 His place cannot be easily filled. Groton and Ayer mourn his loss. 

 We sadly miss him. 



[" Public Spirit," Ayer, Thursday, January 29, 1874.] 



