Teacher, politician, military comander, composer. Husband of Sarah "Sally" Cook. He attended Harvard College 1814-16, and graduated Dartmouth College in 1862. He was appointed in 1827 the first headmaster of the English High School in Salem. Colonel of the Salem Light Infantry, he was appointed Adjutant General of Massachusetts Militia in 1844 and served until 1848. Served as the mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1859, and was elected Massachusetts state treasurer in 1861 and served to 1866. In that capacity he also served as paymaster for all troops raised by Massachusetts during the Civil War. He was the first chief of the state's Labor Bureau and was a lifelong advocate for the betterment of the working class, and of child laborers. He served as mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, from 1877 to 1880. A musician and composer, he penned many hymns and psalms. An organ keyboard is carved into his natural rock tombstone.

Teacher, politician, military comander, composer. Husband of Sarah "Sally" Cook. He attended Harvard College 1814-16, and graduated Dartmouth College in 1862. He was appointed in 1827 the first headmaster of the English High School in Salem. Colonel of the Salem Light Infantry, he was appointed Adjutant General of Massachusetts Militia in 1844 and served until 1848. Served as the mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1859, and was elected Massachusetts state treasurer in 1861 and served to 1866. In that capacity he also served as paymaster for all troops raised by Massachusetts during the Civil War. He was the first chief of the state's Labor Bureau and was a lifelong advocate for the betterment of the working class, and of child laborers. He served as mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, from 1877 to 1880. A musician and composer, he penned many hymns and psalms. An organ keyboard is carved into his natural rock tombstone.