THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 67 



a widow, a son, George O. Peirce, and a daughter. Ad- 

 mitted to membership, Aug. 20, 1877. 



ELIZABETH APPLETON PUTNAM died at her residence 

 in Salem, April 27, 1887, daughter of Nathaniel and 

 Elizabeth (Ward) Appleton ; born at Salem, July 10, 

 1804 ; married Eben Putnam, a graduate of Harvard in 

 the class of 1815; postmaster of Salem 1829-40; died 

 April 3, 1876 (see Bulletin Essex Inst., Vol. VIII, p. 

 45). Her facility for graceful versification was remark- 

 able. Admitted to membership August 9, 1865. 



XENOPHON H. SHAW, the oldest of Salem's business 

 men, died suddenly at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 

 1886. He was son of Darius and Johannah (Winship) 

 Shaw, and was born in Lexington, Jan. 10, 1799. He 

 married Eliza C., daughter of Elijah and Lucy (Collins) 

 Haskell. He had for sixty-six years carried on the gilding 

 and picture frame business at 283 Essex street both before 

 and since the building of Mechanic Hall. His character 

 was one of the sturdiest and most manly, upright and 

 honest, and his sterling and kindly qualities endeared him 

 to every one with whom he came in contact. Admitted to 

 membership July 6, 1864. 



HENRY FRANCIS SKERRY died at his home on Hazel 

 street, Salem, Nov. 1, 1886, son of Francis and Phebe 

 W. (Bancroft) Skerry, and was born July 25, 1821 ; a 

 member of the English High School, after leaving which 

 he engaged in the business of his father, on Essex street. 

 In 1842 he united himself with the Central Baptist 

 Church. In the following autumn removed to Bangor, 

 Me., where he remained eleven years; coming again to 

 his native city, he identified himself with the same Church 

 and was secretary or superintendent of the Sunday School, 

 or a deacon serving until the Calvary Church was formed, 



