Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/263

 DIAZ

DIBBLE

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tion. In 1892 he was a candidate before the state legislature for United States senator and was ap- parently the favorite, but after two weeks ballot- ing, in order to break a deadlock he cast his strength in favor of Charles N. Felton, who was elected. In 1892 he was appointed a member of the board of control and second vice-pres- ident of the national commission of the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago. He built and became owner of the Alcazar theatre in San Fran- cisco, and in 1890 erected the Chronicle building, a ten-story edifice. He repre- sented his state as a delegate to the Re- publican national con- vention in 1888 and 1892, and was a member of the National Re- publican committee for eight years, serving as its vice-chairman for four years. He was also president of the International league of press clubs and a director of the Associated pre.ss from 1882. His most notable achievement was the promotion of the California midwinter interna- tional exposition. The project was suggested by him while serving on the national commission of the World's Columbian exposition, at Chicago. On his return to San Francisco he devoted his energy to the promotion of th^ enterprise and he was chosen president and director-general of the exjiosition. He gave his personal attention to its management, and succeeded in causing the erec- tion of 150 buildings in Golden Gate park at a cost of nearly $2,000,000, in which the exhibition was opened ou the 1st of January, 1894, and lasted six months, during which time it was visited by nearly a million persons. When its affairs were settled nearly $200,000 remained to equip the Mid- winter Fair memorial museum in Golden Gate park. In 1898 he was selected by Governor Budd commissioner- general to represent California in the Omaha Trans-Mississippi exposition.

DIAZ, Abby Morton, author and lecturer, was born in Plymouth, Mass., Nov. 22, 1821; daughter of Ichabod and Patty (Weston) Mor- ton, and granddaughter of Ichabod and Sally (Churchill) Morton and of William and Patty Weston. Her Pilgrim ancestor through Ephraim Morton was George Morton (author of " Mourts Relation," the first book published in England giving an account of the Plymouth colony), whose son Nathaniel, a brother of Ephraim, was a nephew by marriage of Governor Bradford,

served as his assistant, and was secretary of the first colony nearly forty years and up to the time of his death. He was the author of " The New England Memorial," the first regular history of the colony. Abby was educated in the public schools of Plj'mouth and at the normal school, Bridgewater, Mass. She was a worker in the anti-slavery cause, and as a schoolgirl, secretary of the Plymouth juvenile anti-slavery society; an early disciple of " The New Thought " (mental healing), and deeply interested in occult meta- physical and spiritual science, in social econom- ics. Christian socialism, and the home in its relation to the state. She was a founder, became a life member and for many years was president of the Boston women's educational and industrial union; was elected a member of the New Eng- land women's club, of the Massachusetts woman suffrage society, of the Belmont suffrage society and of the Belmont educational union. After a brief period of marriage she was left with two infant sons whom she supported and educated. She also subsequently cared for tliree motherless grandchildren. She wrote for children, believ- ing it ' ' easier to right- form, than to reform. ' ' Among her more popular books are: The King's Lihj and Rosebud (1869); The William Henry Letters (1870); William Henry and His Frieiids (1871); Lticy Maria (1873); A Story Book for the Children (1875); The Jimmyjohn (1877); The John Spicer Lectures (1881); Polly Cologne (1881); The Cats Arabian Nights (1881); Chronicle of Stimp- cett Family (1882); and The Story Tree Series (1888). Her books for adults include: Domestic Problems (1875); Neighborhood Talks on Arbitration vs. War (1876); Spirit as Power (1886); Law of Per- fection (1886); Bybury to Beacon Street (1887); In the Strength of the Lord (1889); Only a Flock of Women (1893); Eeligioiis Training of Children (1895); and contributions to many of the lead- ing magazines.

DIBBLE, Samuel, representative, was born at Charleston, S.C, Sept. 16, 1837. He attended the public schools in his native city and in Bethel, Conn., entered the college of Charleston in 1853, and afterward Wofford coUege, Spartanburg, S.C, where he was graduated in 1856. He taught school for a time, was admitted to the bar in 1859 and began practice at Orangeburg, S.C. In 1861 he volunteered as a private in the Confederate army, and served until the close of the war in the 1st and 25th South Carolina volunteers, at- taining the rank of 1st lieutenant. At the close of the war he resumed the practice of law at Orangeburg; was elected a representative in the state legislature in 1877, a trustee of the Univer- sity of South Carolina in 1878, and chairman of the executive committee of the South Carolina agricultural college and mechanics' institute for