SLEEPER. SLEEPER. 555 tracted a second marriage with Ella M. Potter Pierce, daughter of Henry Christy and Emerilda Potter. Mr. Slater's religious connections are with the Baptist church, of which, for AR8A C. SLATER. many years, he has been a consistent mem- ber and officer. SLEEPER, JACOB, son of Jacob and Olive (Dinsdale) Sleeper, was born in New Castle, Lincoln county, Maine, November 21, 1S02, and died at his residence in Bos- ton, March 31, 1889. At the common schools of his native town and at Lincoln Academy, New Castle, he received his early educational training. At fourteen years of age he had lost both parents, their deaths occurring within a year of each other. Left in the care of an uncle, who became his guardian, he was removed to Belfast, Me., where he began life a poor boy. After working as clerk for some years in his uncle's store, he started a store for himself in the same town. He was then twenty-one years old. After three years he removed to Boston and became book- keeper for True & Brodhead. In 1835 ne formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Carney & Sleeper, clothiers. From this date he steadily rose in finan- cial prosperity, and amassing a fortune in the wholesale clothing business and in real estate transactions, he was enabled to retire from business in 1S50. He had early become settled in his religious convictions, and it was only by accident that his course of life was not radically changed to that of the gospel ministry, at the age of twenty-three. From the very outset of the business life of Mr. Sleeper, he conscientiously abstained from hoarding his increasing wealth, but had always reserved a portion of his income for charitable and religious objects. For the last two years before his decease he had given away his entire income, not allowing his household ex- penses to exceed five thousand dollars per year. Through the greater part of his life he was a prince of benefactors, and his noble gifts outside of his innumerable private charities for the alleviation of the sufferings of hundreds of families will make his memory a precious one to many hearts. The social position to which he rose may be indicated by some of the offices which he filled. He was president of the Massa- chusetts Bible Society, and vice-president of the American Bible Society ; president of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion ; a trustee of YY'esleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and Boston Univer- sity, of which he was one of three found- ers ; a trustee of Wilbraham Academy, and for twelve years overseer of Harvard College. In the Bromfield Street Metho- dist Episcopal church, which he joined in 1825, he was a trustee, steward, and class- leader. He was forty-six years treasurer of the trustees, and for fifty-nine consecu- tive years the beloved Sunday-school superintendent. He helped to build hun- dreds of churches throughout America and in other lands. He also took a deep interest in the establishment of the New England Conservatory of Music, and the grand hall of that institution, known as Sleeper Hall, perpetuates his name. lie endowed the YVesleyan Home for Children at Newton, and gave very largely to mis- sions. In 1852 he served as a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Boston ; was a member of the House of Represen- tatives two years ; a member of Governor Andrew' s council, also of the council of Governor Banks. He was one of the directors of the Bank of Commerce, and of the North American Insurance Com- pany from their organization, and was also officially interested in western railways.
