Edward Payson Roe

Rev.
Edward Payson Roe
Born(1838-03-07)March 7, 1838
Moodna, New Windsor, New York
DiedJuly 19, 1888(1888-07-19) (aged 50)
Cornwall on Hudson, New York
Resting placeWillow Dell Cemetery, Cornwall on Hudson, New York
NationalityAmerican
EducationWilliams College, Auburn Theological Seminary
Occupation(s)Novelist, Presbyterian minister
Notable work
  • Barriers Burned Away (1872)
  • Without a Home (1881)
  • Opening of a Chestnut Burr (1874)
StyleChristian novel
SpouseAnna Paulina Sands
RelativesWilliam James Roe (first cousin)
Signature

Edward Payson Roe (March 7, 1838 – July 19, 1888) was an American novelist, Presbyterian minister, horticulturist and historian.

Biography

Edward Payson Roe was born in the village of Moodna, now part of New Windsor, New York. He studied at Williams College and at Auburn Theological Seminary. In 1862 he became chaplain of the Second New York Cavalry, U.S.V., and in 1864 chaplain of Hampton Hospital, in Virginia. In 1866-74 he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Highland Falls, New York. In 1874 he removed to Cornwall-on-Hudson, where he devoted himself to the writing of fiction and to horticulture. During the American Civil War, he wrote weekly letters to the New York Evangelist, and subsequently lectured on the war and wrote for periodicals.[1]

He married Anna Paulina Sands in 1863 and had several children.[2] His daughter Sarah married the Olympic fencer Charles T. Tatham,[3] and daughter Pauline married the landscape painter Henry Charles Lee.[4]

Edward Payson Roe Memorial Park in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York is dedicated to his honor.

Writings

His novels were very popular in their day, especially with middle class readers in England and America, and were translated into several European languages. Their strong moral and religious purpose, did much to break down a Puritan prejudice in America against works of fiction. One of his most consistent criticisms was that his work resembled sermons. Among his novels and horticultural writings were:[1]

His first novel inspired an eponymous movie, Barriers Burned Away, released in 1925 by W.S. Van Dyke.

References

  1. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Roe, Edward Payson". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 449–450.
  2. ^ Auburn Theological Seminary (1883). General Catalogue of the Auburn Theological Seminary: Including the Trustees, Treasurers, Professors, and Alumni. Daily Advertiser and Weekly Journal Printing House. p. 135.
  3. ^ "Gossip". Turf, Field, and Farm. January 31, 1902. p. 109.
  4. ^ "An Artist's Wedding". Chicago Tribune. July 11, 1886. p. 9.

Biography

  • Carey, G.O. (1985). Edward Payson Roe. Twayne's United States authors series. Twayne Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8057-7421-4.
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