STODDARD, William Osborn, author, born in Homer, Cortland County, New York, 24 September, 1835. His father was for many years a bookseller and publisher in Rochester and Syracuse, New York He was graduated at the University of Rochester in 1858, edited the "Daily Ledger" in Chicago for a short time, and the same year became editor of the " Central Illinois Gazette," at Champaign, which he conducted for about three years. He was an opponent of slavery, and took an active part in the Republican presidential canvass of 1860. He was a private secretary to President Lincoln in 1861-'4, was United States marshal for Arkansas in 1864-'6, and has since been variously employed. He invented a centre-locking printer's chase, and has taken out several patents for successful improvements in desiccating processes and in machinery. He has published "Royal Decrees of Scanderoon " (New York, 1869); " Verses of Many Days" (1875): "Dismissed" (1878) ; "The Heart of It" (1880); "Dab Kinzer" (1881); "The Quartet" (1882) ; "Esau Hardery" (1882) ; "Saltillo Boys " (1882) ; "Talking-Leaves " (1882); "Among the Lakes " (1883) ; "Wrecked ?" (1883) ; "The Life of Abraham Lincoln " (1884) ; "Two Arrows " (1886) ; "The Red Beauty" (1887); " The Volcano under the City," a description of the draft riots of 1863 (1887); and "Lives of the Presidents," to be completed in tea volumes (1886-'8).