Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/421

 HOYT

IIOYT

law was a i-ecognition of this service by the trustees. He was also interested in tlie establisli- nient of the Chicago Astronomical observatory, and held membersliip in the various scientific and literary associations of Chicago. He pre- sided over the first meeting held after the great fire of 1871, to organize the free public library of Chicago, and was president of its first board of directors. He published a history of the library up to 1877. He was elected mayor of Chicago in 1876 on a citizens' reform ticket, and held the office six weeks, when it was decided that the new charter of the city extended the term of the incumbent, and Mr. Hoyne at once stepped out to avoid confusion. He was a pres- idential elector on the Van Buren and Adams ticket in 1848, and on the Greeley and Brown ticket in 1872. He was killed in a railroad acci- dent near Albion, N.Y., July 27. 1883.

HOYT, Albert Harrison, editor, was born in Sandwich, N.H., Dec. 6, 1826; son of Benjamin Ray and Lucinda( Freeman) Hoyt, and grandson of Benjamin and Lydia (Joslyn) Hoyt. He was graduated at Wesleyan university in 1850, and studied law in Portsmouth, N.H. He was one of the state school commissioners of New Hamp- shire, 1852-53 ; clerk of the supreme judicial court, 1853-56; lawyer in Portsmouth, N.H., 1856-62, and paymaster in the army, 1862-66, with rank of major, and was bre vetted lieutenant- colonel, 1S05. He resided in Boston, Mass., 1866- 78, where he devoted himself to literature. He -was elected a life member of the New England Historic Genealogical society, and was editor of the Register, 1868-76. He resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1878-82 ; returned to Boston in 1882, and in 1887 he accepted a clerkship in the U.S. sub- treasury, Boston. He is the author of valuable papers relating to the early history of New Eng- land, and edited for the New England Historic Genealogical society Vol. IV. of Memorial Biog- raphies (1885), and, in part, other volumes of the series.

HOYT, Benjamin Thomas, educator, was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 18, 1821 ; son of Benjamin Ray and Lucinda (Freeman) Hoyt and grandson •of Benjamin and Lydia (Joslyn) Hoyt. He was graduated at Wesleyan university in 1816 ; was principal of the high school at Middletown, Conn., 1846-49; of the high school at Chelsea, Mass., 1849-52, and of Lawrenceburg institute, Tnd., 1852-54. He was associate editor of The Indiana School Journal, 1854-56 ; principal of Indiana Female college, Indianapolis, and teacher of mental and moral science there, 1856-58 ; pro- fessor of Latin and literature, Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) university, 1858-63, and professor of belles-lettres and history there, 1863-67. He died in Greencastle, Ind., May 24, 1867.

HOYT, Charles Hale, playwright, was born in Concord, N.H., July 26, 1860. He acquired his education at the Boston Latin school, did some newspaper work, studied law for a time in Chai'lestown, N.H., and was dramatic and mu- sical editor of the Boston Post for five years. He was for two terms a Democratic representa- tive in the New Hampshire legislature. His first production as a play wriglit was " Gilford's Luck," a serious piece, which was well received. He then devoted himself to writing plays and later became a theatrical manager, leasing the Garrick and Madison Square theatres in Ne^^' York city. He was married in 1887 to Flora Walsh, an ac- tress, who died in 1893 ; and in 1894 he was mar- ried to Caroline Scales Miskel, also an actress, and noted as one of the most beautiful women on the stage. She died in 1898. Mr. Hoyt's plays were remarkably successful, and the profits from " A Trip to Chinatown " alone had amounted to $500,000 up to 1895. In 1900 his health l)roke down from overwork and the shock of liis wife's death. His plays are as follows : GifforcVs Luck ; Gozelia ; A Bunch of Keys ; A Parlor Match ; A Rag Baby ; A Tin Soldier ; A Hole in the Ground ; A Mid- night Bell ; A Brass Monkey ; A Texas Steer ; A Temperance Toum ; A Black Sheep ; A Trip to Chinatown ; A Milk-JMiite Flag ; A Contented Woman ; A Stranger in New Yoi^k ; A Day and a Night in New York; A Dog in the Manger. He died in Charlestown, N. H., Nov. 22. 1900.

HOYT, Francis Southack, educator and editor, was born in Lyndon, Vt., Nov. 5, 1822 ; son of Benjamin Ray and Lucinda (Freeman) Hoyt ; grandson of Benjamin and Lydia (Joslyn) Hoyt, born in Massachusetts, and died in Craftsbury, Vt., and probably a descendant of John Hoyt, 1640. He was graduated at Wesleyan university in 1844 ; became a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal church, and served as teacher and pastor in New England, 1844-48. In 1848 he removed to Salem, Ore. He was president of Willamette university, Salem, Ore., 1855-60; professor of chemistry and natural history in Ohio Wesleyan university, 1860-66 ; and Chris- man professor of Biblical literature, 1866-72 ; editor of the Western Chmstian Advocate at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, 1872-84 ; delegate to the Methodist ecumenical conference, 1881 ; delegate to the general conference, 1860, 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1884, and presiding elder, 1884-96. He received the degree of D.D. from Baldwin university in 1869 and from Ohio Wesleyan university in 1873, and was president of the board of trustees of Baldwin university, Berea, Ohio, 1885-1900. He edited Angus's Bible Hand Book (1868).

HOYT, Henry Martyn, governor of Pennsyl- vania, was born in Kingston, Pa.. June 8, 1830 ; son of Lieut. Ziba and Nancy (Hurlbut) Hoyt ;