Obadiah Hadwen
Encyclopedia
Obadiah Brown Hadwen was a horticulturist
active in Worcester, Massachusetts
.
Hadwen was born in Providence, Rhode Island
and spent four years at Moses Brown School
, then a further four years at the Clinton Grove Institute and one term's instruction at the Worcester County Manual Labor School. In 1844, while still a minor, he became owner of a farm in Worcester, which he improved and enlarged over the years. He became a member of the Worcester County Horticultural Society in 1847, and subsequently served as its trustee, vice president, and president. He was also a trustee and chairman of the Agricultural College at Amherst (now the University of Massachusetts Amherst
), as well as commissioner of public parks in Worcester.
Hadwen bequeathed his arboretum to Clark University
for the sole purpose of education, with the following words: "Said estate to be forever kept for the purpose of educating students
in Agricultural, Historical, and Arboreal knowledge scientific and practical. I adopt this
course with the purpose in view of preserving the trees and plants growing thereon, being
a portion of my life work, shall be preserved as an Arboretum, and an object lesson to
assist students in the education of the science and art of Arboriculture and improving the
landscape." He also willed $1000 to Clark University to be invested, with the annual income used "to embellish the University grounds with ornamental trees and plants".
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
active in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.
Hadwen was born in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and spent four years at Moses Brown School
Moses Brown School
Moses Brown School is a Quaker school located in Providence, Rhode Island, founded by Moses Brown, a Quaker abolitionist, in 1784. It is one of the oldest preparatory schools in the country.-Founder:...
, then a further four years at the Clinton Grove Institute and one term's instruction at the Worcester County Manual Labor School. In 1844, while still a minor, he became owner of a farm in Worcester, which he improved and enlarged over the years. He became a member of the Worcester County Horticultural Society in 1847, and subsequently served as its trustee, vice president, and president. He was also a trustee and chairman of the Agricultural College at Amherst (now the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
), as well as commissioner of public parks in Worcester.
Hadwen bequeathed his arboretum to Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
for the sole purpose of education, with the following words: "Said estate to be forever kept for the purpose of educating students
in Agricultural, Historical, and Arboreal knowledge scientific and practical. I adopt this
course with the purpose in view of preserving the trees and plants growing thereon, being
a portion of my life work, shall be preserved as an Arboretum, and an object lesson to
assist students in the education of the science and art of Arboriculture and improving the
landscape." He also willed $1000 to Clark University to be invested, with the annual income used "to embellish the University grounds with ornamental trees and plants".
See also
- Hadwen ArboretumHadwen ArboretumHadwen Arboretum is an arboretum in Worcester, Massachusetts. Located in Worcester's West Side, it is owned and protected by nearby Clark University. The arboretum was bequeathed to Clark by Obadiah Hadwen for historical and ecological purposes upon his death in 1907. A 1978 report by Clark...
, owned by Clark UniversityClark UniversityClark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
(at the corner of Lovell and May Street) - Hadwen Park in Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, MassachusettsWorcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....