The Biographical Dictionary of America/Augustus, John

AUGUSTUS, John, philanthropist, was born in Boston about 1785. He was a shoemaker in moderate circumstances, but he devoted a large part of his time and means to reclaiming and befriending the criminal and outcast classes. It was his custom to visit the Boston police courts every morning, and to become bail for those charged with petty crimes, whom he thought capable of being reformed; and such was his judgment of character that he was very seldom mistaken. This he did for many years, and the amount of good he thus accomplished was beyond computation. He used to say that "the blessing of the friendless is the only coin that is current in the 'upper country.'" He died poor, but greatly respected and beloved, June 21, 1859.