Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/589

sory in 1796, and two years later was transferred to the see of Meath. Besides three volumes of “Sermons” and a poem on “The Crucifixion,” he published a “Vindication” of the conduct of his patrons, Gen. Sir William and Admiral Lord Howe, in America, and other political tracts.

OBER, Frederic Albion, author, b. in Beverly, Mass., 13 Feb., 1849. He received a common-school education, evinced a fondness for natural history, collecting while yet a boy nearly all the birds of New England and noting their habits, and in 1872 abandoned business to hunt in Florida. In 1874 he made a second trip, successfully explored Lake Okechobee, and published in periodicals a description of the lake and its shores. In 1876-'8 he made a trip to the Lesser Antilles to collect birds for the Smithsonian institution, and discovered twenty new species. On a second excursion he discovered two other birds that were before unknown, and made a complete exploration of the Caribbees. In 1881, moved by a desire to see the vestiges of early American civilization, he journeyed through Mexico, and during that and two subsequent trips gathered the material for several books. On his return from various explorations he prepared accounts of his travels at the request of scientific societies, and later a series of popular lectures, illustrated with photographic views, projected by the magic lantern. His lectures, originally delivered before the Lowell institute in Boston, include “Mexico, Historical and Picturesque,” “Ancient Cities of Mexico,” “The Mexican Indian,” “Adventures in the West Indies,” and “Through Florida with Gun and Camera.” His published works are “Camps in the Caribbees” (Boston, 1879); “Young Folks' History of Mexico” (1883); “Travels in Mexico” (1884); “Mexican Resources: a Guide to and through Mexico” (1885); “The Silver City,” a book for boys (1885); and another juvenile book entitled “Montezuma's Gold-Mines” (1887).

OBERHOLTZER, Sara Louisa, poet, b. in Uwchlan, Chester co., Pa., 20 May, 1841. Her maiden name was Vickers. She was educated at the state normal school in Millersville, and on 1 Jan., 1862, married John Oberholtzer, of Norristown, Pa. She began at an early age to contribute poems and articles in prose to newspapers and magazines, and has published in book-form “Violet Lee, and other Poems” (Philadelphia, 1872); “Come for Arbutus, and other Wild Bloom” (1882); “Hope's Heart Bells,” a story of Quaker life (1884); and “Daisies of Verse” (1886).

OBOOKIAH, Henry, missionary, b. on the island of Hawaii about 1792; d. in Cornwall, Conn., 17 Feb., 1818. He was brought to New Haven, Conn., in a merchant vessel in 1809. After he had obtained an excellent English education in the families of friends in Andover, Mass., and Goshen and Canaan, Conn., the ministers of Litchfield county, Conn., formed the plan of a special school to prepare natives of heathen countries for missionary service. He was active in soliciting money for the proposed mission-school, which was established at Cornwall, Conn., in 1817. There were brought into it other Kanakas besides Obookiah, as well as pupils from Hindustan and some North American Indians. While there he was seized with a fatal fever, after nearly completing a Hawaiian dictionary, grammar, and spelling-book, besides translating the book of Genesis into his native language. His “Memoirs” were published (New York, 1818).

O'BRIEN, Cornelius, Canadian archbishop, b. in New Glasgow, Prince Edward island, 4 May, 1843. After finishing his classical studies at St. Dunstan's college, Charlottetown, in 1864, he went to the Urban college of the propaganda, Rome, where he took a seven years' course of philosophy and theology, and on its completion obtained the degrees of "doctor of philosophy and doctor of theology in public competition. He was ordained in 1871, and on his return was appointed professor in St. Dunstan's college. In 1878 he was made rector of the cathedral of Charlottetown, and in 1874 he was transferred to the parish of Indian river. In 1880 he went to Rome with Bishop Mclntyre. of Charlottetown, and he accompanied Archbishop Hannan, of Halifax, on his visit to the pope in 1881. On the death of Archbishop Han- nan. in 1882, he was nominated for the vacant see. He was consecrated archbishop in the cathedral of Halifax on 21 Jan., 1883, and at once devoted himself to the development of the resources of his diocese. He built the fine church of St. Patrick in 1883, and rebuilt the Orphanage of Halifax on a large scale in the following year. He opened St. Patrick's home, a reformatory and industrial school, in 1885, and other charitable and educational in- stitutions. The extensive parochial schools that he has erected in connection with St. Patrick's church are considered the most complete in Hali- fax. Archbishop O'Brien has founded twelve churches and nine parochial schools, and has ac- quired property in different parts of his diocese with the purpose of establishing other institutions. The diocese at present contains eighty churches, forty priests, eleven convents, and a Roman Catho- lic population of more than 50,000. Archbishop O'Brien is an eloquent preacher and a popular lecturer on general subjects. He has written " Philosophy of the Bible Vindicated " (Charlotte- town, 1876) ; " Mater Admirabilis " (Montreal, 1882) ; " After Weary Years," a novel (Baltimore, 1885): "St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr" (Halifax, 1887) ; and "Early Stages of Christianity in Eng- land " (Charlottetown, 1880).

O'BRIEN, Fitz James, author, b. in Limerick, Ireland, in 1828 ; d. in Cumberland. Md.. 6 April, 1862. He was educated at the University of Dub- lin, and is believed to have been at one time a sol- dier in the British service. On leav- ing college he went to London, and in the course of two years spent his inheritance of £8,000, meanwhile editing a period- ical in aid of the World's fair of 1851. About 1852 he came to the United States, and thenceforth he de- voted his atten- tion to literature. While he was in college he had shown an aptitude for writing verse,

and two of his

poems — " Loch Ine " and " Irish Castles " — were published in " The Ballads of Ireland " (1856). His earliest writings in the United States were contributed to the " Lantern," which was then edited by John Brougham. Subsequently he wrote for the " Home Journal," the " New York Times," and the "American Whig Review." His first impoi tant lit-