Eugene Field loved children. In fact he had eight with his wife, Julia Comstock, whom he met at the age of 14 and married when she turned 16. Though his life was relatively short; he was born September 02, 1850 and died November 04, 1895 at the age of 45; his legacy as “The Children's Poet” remains throughout the world to this day.
Early Years
Field was the oldest of three children. His brother Roswell was one year younger, and his baby sister died soon after birth. His mother, Francis, passed away when Eugene was only 6 years old and he and his brother were sent away to live with their aunt until they were old enough for their father, also named Roswell to care for on his own. Roswell SR was a very distinguished lawyer and became prominent as one of the counsel in the famous Dred Scott case. It was on his aunt's farm that Field's is said to have written his first poem at the age of 9 years. It was about a farm dog named Fido.
Field’s College years
Eugene's father and younger brother were both dedicated scholars. Eugene however marched to a different drum. Even though his father tried to influence him, Eugene’s college history was less than successful. At 15 he was sent to a small private school in Massachusetts to prepare him for college. He was more interested in leading the other boys in pranking the headmaster. When he was 17 he entered William's College, also in Massachusetts, but left after only 8 months when his father died and his guardian transferred him to Knox College in Illinois. His education at Knox lasted 2 years before he was dismissed for yet another prank.
Fields than went to the University of Missouri, at Columbia, MO. It was there that he began writing for newspapers and that he met his future wife Julia.
The Poet Emerges
At the age of 21 Eugene came into a considerable inheritance. Unfortunately he squandered it during a year in Europe. This was fortunate for the American public as it now became necessary for him to work for a living and he turned to writing. Journalism was his first choice and he wrote for several newspapers. Poetry however, was his passion.
His own childlike persona prevailed in multiple volumes of verse for the nations children. Some of his best-known works include “Little Boy Blue”, “The Duel”, and “Wynken, Blynken and Nod”. Though he is best known for his children’s poetry, and his famous column “Sharps and Flats”, Field's did write adult poetry. Lover’s Lane was perhaps his most famous poem for adults.
The Legacy Lives On In Wellsboro, PA
Children throughout the country loved the works of Eugene Fields and that love continued to adult hood. So much so that when his beloved wife Elizabeth Cameron Bailey died, Fred Bailey, former Wellsboro native and once State Senator of Denver, commissioned a statue of Wynken, Blynken and Nod. The statue created by Mabel Landrum Torrey stands on “The Green” in Wellsboro, PA. The only other known such statue is in the Children's Fountain, Washington Park, Denver.
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