CORSER. COWLEY. H5 of liis countrymen who are ignorant of its origin. General Corse's war record is an enviable one, and the same courage displayed in the field has since characterized his walks in civil and political life. JOHN M. CORSE. General Corse was appointed collector of internal revenue by President Johnson in 1867. In 1869 he went abroad and spent several years in Europe. His only con- nection in business interests was in Chicago, as constructor of railroads and harbors. He was appointed by President Cleveland, postmaster of Boston, October 8, 18S6, in place of Edward S. Tobey. This position he still holds, and by his executive ability has won the commendation of the public, irrespective of party. Mr. Corse was first married in December, 1856, to Ellen Edwards, daughter of Kim- ball and Ellen (Pray) Prince. Of this union is one son, an only child — now cashier of the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railroad. His second marriage occurred in 1883, with Frances, niece of President Pierce, and daughter of John and C. (M.) McNeil. CORSER, CHARLES A., son of Benja- min and Sarah (Gove) Corser, was born in Lyndon, Caledonia county, Vt., September 21, 1833. The common schools furnished his early education. His first connection in business was in Charlestown, N. H., 1S61, in the retail boot and shoe business. He came to Holyoke in 1863 and opened up the same line of business. He was member of the board of selectmen and of health, Holyoke, from 1869 to '71 ; member of the House of Representatives, 1 87 1 ; elected to the Senate 1880 and 'Si ; member of the board of aldermen, 1SS1. His church connections are with the Baptist society, Holyoke — has been its Sabbath-school superintendent two years. He has traveled extensively in the West, Lower California and up the Pacific coast, in 187 1 and '77. Mr. Corser was married in Charlestown, N. H., November 2, 1858, to Isabel S., daughter of Cephas and Hansey (Hyland) Isham. He was married again in Holyoke, May, 1868, to Arabell i'. White. His children are: Theressa I., Charles B., Lilian 1L, and Rachel H. Corser. COWLEY, CHARLES, son of Aaron and Hannah (Price) Cowley, was born at Eastington, Gloucestershire, England, Jan- uary 9, 1S32. His father was a manufac- turer of carpets, who, on coming to Massa- chusetts, established and carried on carpet factories at Woburn and Lowell. Mr. Cowley was educated in the public schools of Lowell and by tutors in advanced studies. He early commenced writing for the public press of Lowell, and at the age of twenty assumed the editorial manage- ment of the " Lowell Daily Courier." His ambition led him to abandon this situation and enter upon the study of law under Judge J. G. Abbott. In May, 1856, he was admitted to the Middlesex bar, and opened an office in Lowell, where, and in Boston, he has prac- ticed his profession with success. In 1S61, at the outbreak of the civil war, Mr. Cowley was elected captain of the Wamesit Rifles, a newly organized com- pany in Lowell, but finding himself physi- cally unequal to the long marches of mili- tary service he resigned that position and entered the navy, where he was assigned to duty as paymaster at the Brooklyn (NY.) navy-yard, under Rear-Admiral Paulding. Next, he served in the same capacity on the " Lehigh," one of the " Monitor " fleet which essayed the bombardment of the defenses of Charleston, S. C. Thence he was transferred to the staff of Admiral Dahlgren, where, as judge-advocate, fleet judge, provost judge and revising officer of the naval courts of the South Atlantic
