Page:One of a thousand.djvu/673

 W 11. 1 IKK WILLARD. 650 wide reputation as one of the best shots in the country. His partiality for the rifle was early developed, he at the age of eighteen accomplishing more with the rifle than his companions could with the shot- gun. Me has kept pace with the develop- ment of this fire-arm through all its changes from muzzle to breech-loader, adding in- WILLARD, JOSEPH AUGUSTUS, son of Sidney and Elizabeth Anne (Andrews) Willard, was born September 29, 18 16, in Cambridge, Middlesex county. He was educated atWestford Academy, Cambridgeport Latin school, and fitted for college under the tuition at different times of James Freeman Clarke and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Instead of entering college, however, in 1830 he went to sea for eight years, when he returned and continued his studies under his father, who had resigned a professorship at Harvard College. In 1846 he entered the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas, to assist in the office, and in 1848 was appointed dep- uty sheriff with his other duties. In 1854 he was admitted to the Suffolk bar, and in 1855 was appointed assistant clerk of the superior court of the county of Suffolk. In 1S59 he was appointed assistant clerk of the present superior court. In 1865 he genious devices of his own to his favorite weapon, until now at the various matches in which he has carried oil many a prize, he stands among the first of those who ex- cel in this fascinating recreation. In his leisure hours he has also accom- plished much in a literary line, writing sev- eral essays evincing careful research and great thought. These have been well re- ceived by both the press and the general public. His most ambitious work is " Life ; its Nature, Origin and Development." This is an able review and discussion of the much-mooted question respecting the origin of life. The author traverses the entire field of scientific hypothesis, theory, and speculation — ancient and modern — and tests each in turn at its crucial point, show- ing the fallacies of many of them, and their entire lack of facts to support them. His book is one of the very best which the an- tagonism of some modern scientists to a divine revelation has called forth. JOSEPH A WILLARD was appointed by the court, clerk of the superior court, to fill a vacancy, and has been elected every term since. This office he still holds, his term expiring in 1892. On the 5th of September, 1841, in Cam- bridge, Mr. Willard was married to Penel- ope, daughter of Peter and Penelope Cochran. Their children are : Elizabeth Anne, Edward Augustus, Mary Mitchell,