BIO: THE BOSLER FAMILY, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 210-217 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ THE BOSLER FAMILY. ABRAHAM BOSLER. Johan Wilhelm Bossler was the earliest American ancestor of the Bosler family of Cumberland county. He came from Hanover, Germany, and landed at Philadelphia, Oct. 28, 1738, from the ship "Bilander Thistle," and was the only person of his name on the vessel. In fact, he is the only Bosler that appears anywhere upon the immigrant records of Pennsylvania. He was yet quite young when he arrived in this country and it is not definitely known where he first settled and what occupation he followed. By 1761 he was living in Lancaster county, between Elizabethtown and Maytown, where he married a Miss Longenecker, by whom he had a large family. Among their children was a son John, born Nov. 14, 1765, who married Catharine Gish, of Lancaster county, and engaged at farming. In 1794 he came to Cumberland county, and settled on the north side of the Conedoguinet Creek, in what is now Silver Spring township. He purchased from John and James Buchanan the farm that is now owned by David R. Vogelsong, and made it his home during the rest of his days. He also afterward acquired the ownership of two other farms, adjoining this one on the north, and for thirty years was a prominent and influential citizen of that part of the county. He died Nov. 21, 1824, his wife, Catharine (Gish) Bosler, died Feb. 15, 1829, aged fifty-seven years, and the remains of both are buried in the cemetery of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. John and Catharine (Gish) Bosler had five children, three sons and two daughters. CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 211 The sons were Jacob D., John and Abraham; and the daughters were Nancy and Catharine. Jacob was a physician and for a time had a drug store and practiced his profession in Mechanicsburg. He married Ann D. Herman, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Bowers) Herman, and removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he lived to a great age and where some of his descendants are still living. John was married twice. His first wife was a daughter of Rev. Jacob Keller, and his second a daughter of George Webbert. Nancy was also married twice; her first husband was John Rife, and her second Melchoir Webbert. Catharine married Dr. John Fahnestock on Oct. 23, 1827. Abraham Bosler was the youngest child. He was born Aug. 19, 1806, on the farm which his father purchased from the Buchanans in the part of East Pennsboro township that is now included in Silver Spring. Here he grew to manhood and received such education as the district schools of that section afforded. Although reared on the farm and trained to that vocation he had scarcely reached the years of maturity when he turned his attention to merchandising. He engaged at merchandising in the village of Hogestown for several years and then formed a partnership with Francis Porter in the produce and forwarding business, shipping by arks and boats to Baltimore by way of the Susquehanna river, and by canal to Philadelphia. He also was a large dealer in cattle, which he purchased in Ohio and western Pennsylvania and then drove them to the Eastern markets. His business ventures were quite successful, but he still retained his interest in farming. For some years he farmed a farm which adjoins Hogestown on the northwest, now owned by the McCormick estate, and in March, 1838, bought a fine farm from Martha Cunningham. This farm lies next to the place on which he was born, in a peninsula on the north side of the Conedoguinet, due north of Hogestown, and since Mr. Bosler has parted with it it has been owned by the Mussers. Here he farmed, manufactured brick, erected new buildings and made other improvements, and lived twelve of the most strenuous years of his entire career. In April, 1850, he sold his possessions in Silver Spring township, moved his family to his wife's brother, Christian Herman, near New Kingston, and went West. He made an extended trip and purchased a large tract of land near what is now Monmouth, Ill., and then returned to Pennsylvania for his family. His wife, however, was averse to going West, so in the spring of 1852 he moved to South Middleton township, a short distance south from Carlisle, where the fall previous he had purchased a farm, a mill and a distillery. He engaged in these various branches of industry in that locality until 1863, when the revenue taxes became exorbitant and he closed his distillery. Later he sold his interests at this place to his son, J. Herman Bosler, and in 1872 moved to Carlisle, where, under the firm name of A. Bosler & Dale, he engaged in the grain and coal business for seven or eight years and then retired. On Feb. 25, 1830, Mr. Abraham Bosler was married to Miss Eliza Herman, by Rev. James Williamson, pastor of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. Eliza Herman was a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Bowers) Herman, and a member of a prominent Silver Spring family whose history appears in another part of these annals. Soon after their marriage they connected with the Presbyterian Church at Silver Spring, where they continued faithful attendants until they removed to South Middleton, when by certificate they transferred 212 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. their membership to the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, of which church they were devout members and liberal supporters until the end of life. Mr. Bosler died Dec. 21, 1883; his wife died Dec. 7, 1885, aged seventy-five years, and their remains rest in the family plot in Ashland cemetery in Carlisle. They had eight children, namely: John Herman, James Williamson, Benjamin C., Joseph, Elizabeth Bowers, Mary Catharine, George Morris and Charles A. The last-named died in infancy, but the rest all grew to maturity. Elizabeth B. is unmarried and a resident of Carlisle. Mary C. married Joseph R. Stonebraker and resides in Baltimore, and George M. resides in Carlisle, where he has extensive business interests. Benjamin C. was reared upon the farm and in 1857 went to Illinois, where he resided until the early sixties, when he removed to California and died in a mining camp in 1862. He was unmarried. Abraham Bosler was a strong character in the business and social life of Cumberland county, and his activity, honesty of purpose and integrity won for him an honorable place in its history. JOHN HERMAN BOSLER was the oldest child of Abraham and Eliza (Herman) Bosler. He was born Dec. 14, 1830, near Hogestown, in Silver Spring township. His childhood and youth were spent upon the farm and at the Hogestown district school. When seventeen years of age he entered Cumberland Academy, a preparatory school then in existence at New Kingston, from which he entered Dickinson College, where he pursued his studies through the years of 1850 and 1851. Being predisposed to business rather than books, he then withdrew from college and entered into partnership with his father in the milling and distilling business, in which he continued for five years. He next engaged at the manufacture of iron in Huntingdon county for a period of two years, after which he returned to Cumberland county and again engaged at milling, and also at buying and shipping grain. On Oct. 1, 1856, J. Herman Bosler was married to Miss Mary J. Kirk, of Mifflintown, Juniata county. Mary J. Kirk was a daughter of James and Martha (Sager) Kirk, and a descendant of an old and prominent family of central Pennsylvania. William Kirk, Sr., was born in the. North of Ireland. He immigrated to America at an early date, married Mary McConnel, and settled near East Waterford, Lack township, in what is now Juniata county, at the same time that other members of his family settled in what is now Fulton county. He died in 1781. His son, William Kirk (2), was married twice, first to Mary Elliott and second to Jane Clark. He died on the old homestead in Lack township in 1843. James Kirk, a son of William Kirk (2), by Mary Elliott, was born in Lack township and, grew to manhood in that locality. He was educated in the common schools and under the private tuition of a Mr. White, an old Scotch teacher who had his home in the Kirk family for many years. When sixteen years old he left home to fight life's battles for himself, going first to Churchtown, Cumberland county, where he taught school a term. He next went to Mifflintown, and there for a while clerked in the store of Robert Gallagher. From Mifflintown he went to Fulton county, where he and a cousin, also named James Kirk, for a short time jointly engaged in the mercantile business. He then returned to Mifflintown, and on June 9, 1835, was married to Martha Sager. After his marriage he went back to Fulton county and there spent two years more in the mercantile business, after which he for the third CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 213 time went to Mifflintown, and there-first with Joseph Patterson and afterward by himself-conducted a general store until his death. He died in Mifflintown in September, 1870; his wife, Martha (Sager) Kirk, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bosler, in Carlisle, March 16, 1884. Mr. Kirk was a Democrat, was active and prominent in politics, and was treasurer of Juniata county one term. J. Herman Bosler continued in business in the vicinity of Carlisle for fifteen years with marked success. In 1869 he became interested in stock ranching in Nebraska and Wyoming with his brother, James W., investing heavily in the cattle business. They were the pioneer representatives of the western cattle business in Cumberland county and were very successful. Afterward J. Herman and George M. Bosler, with others, purchased a large body of land near the growing city of Omaha. This land subsequently was transferred to the South Omaha Land Company, of which J. Herman Bosler became vice-president and one of the heaviest stockholders. This proved to be a most fortunate purchase, for upon it was founded the town of South Omaha, which at first was three miles from the center of Omaha proper, but since has become a corporate part of the city itself. It today stands as a testimonial to the judgment and foresight of its founders. Mr. Bosler also interested himself in business enterprises as far away as the Pacific coast. In 1891 he and others, under the corporate designation of South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company, bought a large tract of land in San Mateo county, Cal., near the city of San Francisco. Subsequently this company made a second and much larger purchase of lands, with the view of developing its natural resources and establishing upon it, on an extensive scale, such industries as the rapid growth of that section calls for. This company has a capital of $2,000,000. In his search for business opportunities Mr. Bosler did not overlook those which his own locality afforded. He assisted in organizing the Carlisle Manufacturing Company, which for many years provided steady employment to a large force of hands and was the means of bringing much needed money to the town. He was also president of the Carlisle Shoe Factory; a director of the Carlisle Deposit Bank; of the Merchants' National Bank; of the Carlisle Gas & Water Company; of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company, and president of the Carlisle Land & Improvement Company, an enterprise which built up a large addition to the town of Carlisle and established some important manufacturing industries. He owned a number of valuable farms in different parts of the county, in the management of which he found great pleasure, chiefly because it afforded him a restful diversion from business. Through his farming interests, and his close association with others similarly interested, he was induced to join the Cumberland County Agricultural Society and proved himself a most influential friend and patron of that useful organization. Although a man constantly vexed with a great load of business cares and responsibilities, Mr. Bosler was possessed of most agreeable social qualities. He was genial, affable and kind. He had a pleasant word for everybody and few people were more generally known or more highly esteemed and popular. He was a man of excellent habits and character, took a deep interest in religious affairs, was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, and gave liberally to its support and the support of all its charities. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and supported his party and its policies zealously, but never sought office. 214 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. In 1888 he was the Democratic Presidential elector from the Nineteenth Congressional district and-was frequently urged to stand for higher office, but always declined because of the pressure of his many business interests. He died on Nov. 18, 1897, and his remains are interred in Ashland cemetery. He was one of the most honored and most conspicuous citizens of his section of the State, and few men in this country have won the measure of business success that he achieved. As a lasting memorial to Mr. Bosler, his widow and five children erected a handsome public library building in Carlisle, known as "The J. Herman Bosler Memorial Library." Entirely completed and equipped with furniture and books, it was formally transferred to trustees on Jan. 30, 1900, together with an endowment fund of $20,000. The presentation address was made by Herman E. Bosler, son of the deceased, at a large and representative assemblage in the building which was presided over by Hon. Edward W. Biddle, President judge of the county. Addresses were made by the chairman and by Rev. George Norcross, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, and by Rev. Dr. George Edward Reed, president of Dickinson College and State Librarian. The building has a frontage on West High street of 57 feet and a depth of 88 feet, standing on a lot 63 by 110 feet. It is a handsome specimen of classic architecture, the front being constructed of Avondale marble with a massive columned entrance. About 4,400 books are now upon its shelves under the care of the efficient and popular librarian, W. Homer Ames. The trustees are: Rev. Dr. George Norcross, president; Hon. Edward W. Biddle, vice-president; John M. Rhey, secretary; Edward B. Watts, treasurer; J. Kirk Bosler; Mrs. Edward W. Biddle; Charles F. Himes; Joseph Bosler; Mrs. Ellen A. Parker; John B. Landis; Mrs. Florence P. McIntire. To John Herman and Mary J. (Kirk) Bosler the following children were born Gertrude D.; Herman E.; Lila McClellan; Jean M.; Fleta K., and J. Kirk. There were also four others who died in infancy. Gertrude D. is the wife of judge Edward W. Biddle, whose biography appears in another part of this volume. Herman E. was secretary and treasurer of the Fidelity & Deposit Company of Baltimore until ill health compelled him to give up the position four years ago. He married Carolyn Dickey Dulany and resides in Baltimore. Lila McClellan married Edward Hooker, of Omaha. She died April 3, 1896, without issue. Jean M. is the wife of James I. Chamberlain, Esq., attorney at law, of Harrisburg, and Fleta K. is the wife of Chester C. Basehore, Esq., attorney at law of Carlisle. JAMES KIRK BOSLER, youngest child of J. Herman and Mary J. (Kirk) Bosler, was born Oct. 11, 1876, in Carlisle, and has always resided there. He was educated at Dickinson College, entering the preparatory department in 1890, and graduating from the college proper in 1897. He then took a course in the Dickinson Law School, from which he graduated in 1899, and was admitted to practice in the Cumberland county courts on June 3, 1899. He is president of the Carlisle Paper Box Company, and secretary of the Carlisle Shoe Company; also a director in the Farmers' Trust Company, of Carlisle, and his time is occupied chiefly in attending to his various manufacturing and business interests. He was married on Nov. 19, 1903, to Miss Mary A. Mullin, daughter of Hon. Charles H. Mullin, of Mt. Holly Springs. CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 215 JAMES WILLIAMSON BOSLER was the third son of Abraham and Eliza (Herman) Bosler, and was born on April 4, 1833, near Hogestown, in Silver Spring township, Cumberland county. He was a grandson of John and Catharine (Gish) Bosler, who in 1794 came from Lancaster county and settled in what is now Silver Spring township. He grew up on the farm and received the rudiments of his education in the public school of the neighborhood. Later he attended the Cumberland Academy at New Kingston, and still later took a partial course at Dickinson College. In 1852 he left college and went to Moultrie, Columbiana Co., Ohio, where during the winter of 1853-54 he taught school. From Moultrie he went to Wheeling, Va. (now West Virginia), where he read law and was admitted to the Bar. Although prepared for it, he did not naturally incline toward the practice of the law and instead of entering upon a professional career he for a while clerked in a store in Wheeling, which, coming at the time it did, was a valuable bit of experience, for it taught him self-reliance and encouraged him to venture into business on his own account. He bought a store in Columbiana county, Ohio, near where he had taught school, laid in a stock of goods and bid for trade. He gave to his mercantile enterprise all his time and attention, but before success had time to wait upon him a disastrous fire wiped out his business and ended his career as a merchant. With the hope of changing his luck he now decided to change his location, and removed to Sioux City, Iowa. The change was advantageous, for it proved to be the beginning of his remarkably successful business career. He formed a partnership with Charles E. Hedges in the real estate business, and later the two established the "Sioux City Bank," under the firm name of Bosler & Hedges. They did a general banking business, and also furnished supplies for the Interior and War Departments of the Government on the North Missouri river. Sioux City was then on the frontier and much of the business of its citizens had connection with government operations. Large numbers of Indians were confined to near-by reservations and these were fed by the Government under treaty, and to do so vast amounts of supplies were necessary, and Bosler & Hedges, and afterward Mr. Bosler alone, provided a large share of these supplies by contract. The boundless plains just beyond the Missouri river, where erstwhile roamed myriads of buffalo, were blooming into national pasture fields and upon them it was easy and very profitable to raise and fatten cattle. Here was an exceptional opportunity, and James W. Bosler was among the first to recognize and take advantage of it. He became one of the pioneer spirits in the new industry of raising cattle on the Western ranges, invested in it heavily and reaped golden profits by it. Besides being active in real estate, banking and cattle raising, he at times engaged in building operations and by contract erected both the public school building and the jail of Sioux City. He also interested himself in politics and one year was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer of Iowa. He was not elected to this office, but at another time was elected a member of the Iowa State Legislature, and in 1860 was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, held at Charleston, S. C., where "a distempered individual broke down one of the great parties of the country and made civil war inevitable." Having accumulated a large fortune, he carefully organized his various interests, and in 1866 returned to his native county in Pennsylvania and made 216 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. arrangements for the domestic peace and comfort of his later years. He built himself a beautiful residence in the suburbs of Carlisle, where, although still continuing his extensive business in the West, he resided until his death. After becoming permanently settled at Carlisle, he became one of the most active and efficient promoters of business enterprises about his home. He helped to organize the Carlisle Manufacturing Company, and was its first president; he was a director in the Carlisle Deposit Bank, a director of the Carlisle Gas & Water Company, and also owned extensive farm interests in different parts of the county. He also was one of the incorporators of the Independent National Bank, of Philadelphia, and a director of it until his death. His active, generous spirit promoted business directly and indirectly, for he not only invested personally but freely and cheerfully extended financial aid to persons who engaged in business, or bought property about him, and never distressed them when adversity came. And when he gave it was with a liberal hand. At the centenary anniversary of Dickinson College, in 1883, at a meeting of the trustees, he subscribed ten thousand dollars for the endowment of a Prof. McClintock chair. He died before this bequest was carried into execution, but after his death his widow, emphasizing her husband's generous motives seven-fold, gave to the institution the splendid "James W. Bosler Memorial Hall," which now stands upon the college campus as a monument to his memory. Early in his career James W. Bosler was a Democrat, but his associations and business relations during and immediately after the Civil war being largely with influential Republicans, he about that time allied himself with the Republican party. Possessed of wonderful resource and tact, and being a good judge of men, he was very useful to the organization and for years was much sought after in close and doubtful campaigns. He was in close touch with a large number of the most distinguished members of the party and was frequently entrusted with their most important political secrets. He was a warm personal friend of Hon. James G. Blaine, and at the Republican National Convention in 1880 was one of a committee of three-the other two being John Roach, the shipbuilder, and Senator Chaffee, of Colorado-who had charge of Mr. Blaine's interests as a candidate for the Presidency. Mr. Blaine did not upon this occasion receive the nomination, but every time he made a campaign for the Presidency James W. Bosler was his unswerving friend, and not only contributed heavily himself, but made others give up to his measure. For this substantial friendship Mr. Blaine showed due appreciation all through life and when Mr. Bosler's remains were borne to the tomb he was a mourner at the side of his bier. Several years afterward, in writing to Mrs. Bosler, he said: "As the years go by I realize more and more how great was my own loss in the death of your husband, and from that I can realize in some faint degree how inestimable was your affection. He was the dearest and most unselfish of friends, and I keep his memory green in my heart." Although the friend he so loyally championed at the National Convention of 1880 was defeated, Mr. Bosler did not sulk or withhold his support from the nominee. He promptly went to the front and gave proof of the sincerity of his acquiescence by giving liberally to the cause. Through his example other men became equally generous, and to him, as much as to any man in the United States, the election of Gen. Garfield was due. One of the great CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 217 public men in Pennsylvania that James W. Bosler was on intimate terms with was Benjamin Harris Brewster. He ranked high as a lawyer, had held important public positions and aspired to a cabinet position. In December, 1881, President Arthur appointed Mr. Brewster Attorney-General of the United States, and since his death extracts from letters written by him have been made public showing that he relied principally upon Mr. Bosler's influence to obtain the appointment to this high office. In 1882 Mr. Bosler was nominated by the Republicans of the 32d District, composed of the counties of Cumberland and Adams, for State senator. The district then was Democratic by about 1,800, and although he was not elected, Mr. Bosler reduced this large majority to 136. His whole career shows that he cared more for the political success of his friends than he did for his own, and in public affairs he preferred to act through others, yet, had he been elected State senator, there is reason to believe, that, with his great influence and extensive acquaintance with public men and public affairs, the public interests would have been well served. In 1860 James W. Bosler married Helen Beltzhoover, daughter of Michael G. and Mary (Herman) Beltzhoover, of near Boiling Springs, Cumberland county. Going to the far west they began their married life in Sioux City and lived there for six years. On the completion of their new home at Carlisle they removed to it and there lived the rest of their days. Mr. Bosler's end came suddenly on Monday, Dec. 17, 1883. He, a few days before, had returned from an exhausting business trip and on the afternoon of the day named was in his office, on the beautiful grounds of his residence, when he was stricken down with apoplexy and died before he could be removed to his house. He was in the prime of life, in the floodtide of usefulness, and his unexpected death was a shock to the entire community, and drew the warmest expressions of sympathy from far and near. Messages of regret and condolence came to the bereaved family from Charles B. Lore, James G. Blaine, Stephen B. Elkins, Thomas Beaver, Jacob Tome, Enoch Pratt and others of the same class, and in the immense throng at his funeral a few days afterward were some of the most distinguished men of the land. His wife, Helen (Beltzhoover) Bosler, died on Oct. 5, 1890, and their remains rest side by side in the family plat in Ashland cemetery. To James W. and Helen (Beltzhoover) Bosler five children were born, viz.: Charles, Frank C., Mary Eliza, DeWitt Clinton and Helen Louisa. Charles died in December, 1870, inn the seventh year of his age. D. Clinton was born April 25, 1873, graduated from Harvard College in 1897, and died Dec. 22, 1903. Frank C. Bosler was born May 1, 1869, and graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1894, and, being the only son living, it is upon him that chiefly rests the responsibility of caring for the large estate that descended to him and his sisters from his father. He is largely interested in business enterprises and is a director in the Carlisle Deposit Bank, and the Farmers' Trust Company of Carlisle, and is the principal owner in the Iron Mountain Ranch Company of Wyoming. Mary Eliza is the wife of Lewis S. Sadler, Esq., a member of the law firm of Sadler & Sadler, of Carlisle. Frank C. and Helen L. are unmarried, and all of them reside at "Cottage Hill," the beautiful home their father built in the suburbs of Carlisle 218 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. in 1866. Like the family for generations past they adhere to the Presbyterian faith and are all members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle. JOSEPH BOSLER was born March 23, 1838, and like many farmer boys alternated working upon the farm with attendance at the district school, and later was given the advantage of a course in the preparatory department of Dickinson College. When he was fourteen he went to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he assisted his brother in a store, but after a few years returned home, and remained upon the farm until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he went West and located at Sioux City, Iowa. Later he was at Omaha, Neb., with his brother James, filling contracts for Indian supplies for the Government. Again his heart turned toward Pennsylvania, and he settled in Carlisle, where he formed a partnership with his brother, J. Herman, in a grain, coal and flour business, which lasted eight years, when the young men sold out to their father and Mr. Dale. In the meanwhile Mr. Bosler was making annual trips to the West to look after his interests there, and when he disposed of his grain business he and his brother James established a cattle ranch at Big Bend on the Missouri river, in South Dakota, and conducted it for several years. Joseph Bosler then retired, and has so lived for the past fifteen years, but he has large realty holdings in Nebraska, the Dakotas and Virginia, and he is a director of the Carlisle Deposit bank and of the Allen & East Pennsboro Fire Insurance Co. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he is very influential in the city. On Nov. 4, 1868, Mr. Bosler married Miss Sarah E. Lemen, of Berkeley county, W. Va., a daughter of Thomas Newton and Margaret (Billmyer) Lemen, both natives of Jefferson county, W. Va., the family being an old one in the State. Mrs. Bosler was reared in her native State, and was married there. Mr. and Mrs. Bosler have six living children: Margaret, widow of John H. Murray, of Milton, Pa., who was a native of Berlin, Germany, has one son, Samuel Wilson Murray; Joseph, Jr., who has lived in Nebraska since 1899, engaged in a real-estate and insurance business, graduated from Dickinson College and filled the office of clerk in the revenue office at Lancaster, Pa., for five years before going West, where he is proving a very successful and enterprising young man; E. Herman, an art student, graduated from the Art Students' League, of New York, and has also studied in Paris; Mary is a graduate of the S. Weir Mitchell Hospital; Susan L. is at home; Newton L., a very promising young fellow, is also at home. Two other children of this family died in childhood, Bessie L. and Catherine N. The family are all members of the Presbyterian Church, with which they have been prominently connected for many years, and Mr. Bosler has well sustained the honor and prestige of his family. Needless to say that Mr. and Mrs. Bosler are among the most highly esteemed people of Carlisle, or that they are leaders in the best circle of social life.