Joseph Dennie Family from Walpole As It Was and As It Is (1880)

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Surname: DENNIE
Source: Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, 
        The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, pages 234-235

DENNIE, JOSEPH, familiarly called Joe Dennie, when he resided in Walpole, was not a native of 
this town, but was born e in Boston, Mass., Aug. 30, 1768. He was educated at Harvard college 
graduated in 1790, and studied law as a profession. He practiced his profession for a short time;
but the practice was very distasteful to him, and having been roughly reprimanded by the judge, 
when trying a case, for the unprofessional course he pursued, he left his profession with disgust
and turned his attention to literary pursuits. At one time he thought of preparing for the 
Episcopal ministry but relinquished it for some cause unknown. In 1795, having acquired some 
reputation by literary contributions to various newspapers his services were secured on a weekly
journal published in Boston, called the "Tablet," but he remained there but a short time. In the
summer of 1795, Dennie came to Walpole, he being then twenty-seven years of age, and became the 
editor of the Farmer’s Museum, then in the third year of its existence. The Museum soon attained
a wide popularity under his management. His style of writing was of that degree of elegance that
he was often mentioned as the "American Addison." His most notable contributions to the Museum 
were a series of essays entitled the Lay Preacher, although he wrote many others equally good. 
Those essays were widely copied by the press of the whole country and gave their author a general
reputation as a graceful and humorous essayist. The publishers of the Museum (Thomas & Carlisle) 
failed in 1798, and in 1799 Dennie was a candidate for Representative to Congress, but failed of
being elected, he being at the time a Federalist. Poor Dennie was now adrift upon the world 
seeking office and employment in various places, but in 1801 in conjunction with a partner, by 
the name of Dickens, commenced the publication of a literary monthly called the "Portfolio," in
Philadelphia, pa. He continued its editor till the time of his death, which occurred June 7,
1812. Tradition says he was very fond of dress and had a weakness for large shoe-buckles and 
white stockings. He is represented to have been a slender, undersized man, with restless, 
sparkling eyes, pale face, and always ready for fun and frolic. When he was engaged in writing 
he dashed off line after line apparently not considering what he was about. Like many persons of
genius, when preparing matter for the press he had always to be driven for copy.
	Royal Tyler, of Brattleboro, who afterwards was Chief Justice of Vermont, was one of 
Dennie’s boon companions and used to come to Walpole often to spend a day with him. Dennie, it
is said, wrote one of his best Lay Sermons in a room in the old Crafts tavern, (now Charles G. 
Maynard’s) where a company were playing whist. It was delivered to the printer’s "Devil," in 
fragments and he had to go for it no less than a dozen times. When he called the last time 
Dennie was engaged in a rubber of whist. "Here," said Dennie to his friend Tyler who was present,
"Play my hand while I give the Devil his due." He is said to have indulged too much in wine and
late suppers while in Walpole, and after he went to Philadelphia he became associated with the 
"Tuesday Club," which was composed of many of the most talented writers and wits in the country.
Here, no doubt, he indulged in his convivial habits to excess, being surrounded by a larger 
number of men of the same tastes of himself than when in Walpole. The "Portfolio", during the 
time that Dennie was its editor, (about eleven years) was considered the best literary 
publication in the United States. Although always needy in purse, Dennie ever found some friend 
to supply his immediate wants at all social gatherings, of which he was generally the life and
the soul. He died at the age of forty-two. No doubt the festive bowl, working on a frail
constitution, was the cause of his early death. In his day no one in the country excelled him 
as an essayist. He possessed splendid talents and ready wits and was ever genial in company.