Journalist, Author. He will be best remembered for his writings on the subjects of war including books on the army, navy, merchant marines, and the marine corps. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Waldo L. Abbot and Julia Holmes Abbot and he was educated at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, in about 1880, and it was during this time that he became interested in politics. He served as Chairman of economist Henry George's campaign when he was running for the office of the Mayor of New York City in 1886. He then relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1887, where he began working as an editor. On November 24, 1887, he married Marie Amanda Mack in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the couple had one child together, son Waldo Mack Abbott was born on September 13, 1888, in Kansas City, Missouri. Shortly after there marriage, the family settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1890, he had his first book, "The Naval History Of The United States" published. He continued with his editorial pursuits and was named the managing editor of the Chicago Times Newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1893. He then became the editor of the New York Journal in New York City from 1896 to 1898. A member of the Democrat Party, he also served as Director of the Democratic National Press Bureau beginning in 1900. He also served as a Candidate for the University of Michigan Board of Regents in 1903. His wife Marie Amanda passed away on July 13, 1903, at the age of 50, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he married for the second time to Elsie V. Maples on April 12, 1905, in Detroit, Michigan, but they had no children. He also became the editor of the New York Journal-American Newspaper in 1905. He finished his post as Director of the Democratic National Press Bureau after serving eight years in 1908. He wrote for publisher William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal Newspaper in 1921, and as a Christian Scientist, he was the chief editorial editor of the Christian Science Monitor from 1922 to 1927. He also wrote the famous "Watching The World Go By" column that ran for three weeks in that same publication. A lifelong friend of the noted orator and politician William Jennings Bryan, he was also a member of the American Economic Association. He was also on the Board of Directors for ANSE and was part of the movement for Ethics Enforcement with journalist and editor Herbert Bayard Swope while working on the constitution of the ANSE. Besides, "The Naval History Of The United States" (1890), his other published works includes, "The Story Of Our Navy For Young Americans" (1910), "The Nations At War" (1912), and "Soldiers Of The Sea: The Story Of The United States Marine Corps" (1918), among many others. On March 11, 1934, he spoke at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on the subject of "Provocative International News" as part of the Block Foundation Program, which was established to promote a better understanding of the press as a political force and its relation to the public. He passed away in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 19, 1934, at the age of 71. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in the Story Chapel Columbarium at the famous Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His second wife Elsie passed away in 1964 at the age of 80 and was buried with her husband. His son Waldo Mack also passed away in 1964 at the age of 76, but he was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Journalist, Author. He will be best remembered for his writings on the subjects of war including books on the army, navy, merchant marines, and the marine corps. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Waldo L. Abbot and Julia Holmes Abbot and he was educated at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, in about 1880, and it was during this time that he became interested in politics. He served as Chairman of economist Henry George's campaign when he was running for the office of the Mayor of New York City in 1886. He then relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1887, where he began working as an editor. On November 24, 1887, he married Marie Amanda Mack in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the couple had one child together, son Waldo Mack Abbott was born on September 13, 1888, in Kansas City, Missouri. Shortly after there marriage, the family settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1890, he had his first book, "The Naval History Of The United States" published. He continued with his editorial pursuits and was named the managing editor of the Chicago Times Newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1893. He then became the editor of the New York Journal in New York City from 1896 to 1898. A member of the Democrat Party, he also served as Director of the Democratic National Press Bureau beginning in 1900. He also served as a Candidate for the University of Michigan Board of Regents in 1903. His wife Marie Amanda passed away on July 13, 1903, at the age of 50, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he married for the second time to Elsie V. Maples on April 12, 1905, in Detroit, Michigan, but they had no children. He also became the editor of the New York Journal-American Newspaper in 1905. He finished his post as Director of the Democratic National Press Bureau after serving eight years in 1908. He wrote for publisher William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal Newspaper in 1921, and as a Christian Scientist, he was the chief editorial editor of the Christian Science Monitor from 1922 to 1927. He also wrote the famous "Watching The World Go By" column that ran for three weeks in that same publication. A lifelong friend of the noted orator and politician William Jennings Bryan, he was also a member of the American Economic Association. He was also on the Board of Directors for ANSE and was part of the movement for Ethics Enforcement with journalist and editor Herbert Bayard Swope while working on the constitution of the ANSE. Besides, "The Naval History Of The United States" (1890), his other published works includes, "The Story Of Our Navy For Young Americans" (1910), "The Nations At War" (1912), and "Soldiers Of The Sea: The Story Of The United States Marine Corps" (1918), among many others. On March 11, 1934, he spoke at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on the subject of "Provocative International News" as part of the Block Foundation Program, which was established to promote a better understanding of the press as a political force and its relation to the public. He passed away in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 19, 1934, at the age of 71. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in the Story Chapel Columbarium at the famous Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His second wife Elsie passed away in 1964 at the age of 80 and was buried with her husband. His son Waldo Mack also passed away in 1964 at the age of 76, but he was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bio by: Kris 'Peterborough K' Peterson
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See more Abbot memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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Willis John Abbot
1900 United States Federal Census
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Willis John Abbot
Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952
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Willis John Abbot
Massachusetts, U.S., Mason Membership Cards, 1733-1990
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Willis John Abbot
Geneanet Community Trees Index
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Willis John Abbot
Michigan, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1822-1940
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