WILBUR, Hervey, author, born in Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts, in 1787; died in Newburyport, Massachusetts, 5 January, 1852. He studied theology and had charge of the Congregational church in his native town in 1817-'23, but afterward was principal of several schools for girls. He was a pioneer in the establishment of Bible classes, and was probably the first in this country to compile and publish a Bible-class text-book. He engaged in many literary and scientific labors, and was the author of a popular work on astronomy, the compiler of a "reference" Bible, and a lecturer on natural history and astronomy. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Dartmouth in 1812. Mr. Wilbur published "A Discourse on the Religious Education of Youth" (2d ed., Boston, 1814) ; "A Reference Bible " (1828); "Elements of Astronomy " (New Haven, 1829); " Lexicon of Useful Knowledge" (New York, 1830) ; and "A Reference Testament for Bible Classes" (London, 1831).-His daughter, Anne Toppan, born in Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts, 20 June, 1817 ; died near Marletta, Ohio, 14 September, 1864, was educated at Newburyport and elsewhere. After completing her studies, she taught music at New Hampton, New Hampshire, Gorham, Maine, and in schools in other places. She translated several volumes from the French and other languages, among them "The Solitude of Juan Fernandez " (Boston, 1851), and contributed chiefly fiction, under the name of "Florence Leigh," to various periodicals. In 1848 she edited the Boston " Ladies' Magazine" and the Lowell, Massachusetts, " Ladies' Casket." After becoming Mrs. Joseph Wood, she published English versions of X. B. Saintine's " Queen of the Danube " and Edmond About's " La question Romaine" (Boston, 1859), and " Romance of a Mummy" (Columbus, 1860).--His son, Hervey Baekus, philanthropist, born in Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts, 18 August, 1820; died in Syracuse, New York, 1 May, 1883, was graduated at Amherst in 1838, and at the Berkshire medical institution, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1842. Meantime he studied engineering, and he subsequently practised medicine at Lowell and Barre, Massachusetts Being greatly impressed by the perusal of an account of Dr. Edouard Seguin's school for idiots at Paris, he received several idiot pupils into his own house at Barre in July, 1848, and organized the first school for idiots in the United States. By his own earnest personal studies and efforts, he thus developed the system of education for the weak-minded that has been adopted in every similar institution in this country, in Canada, and in some parts of Europe. In 1815 Dr. Hervey Backus prevailed upon the legislature of New York to establish an experimental school at Albany, which, under Dr. Wilbur's direction, was so successful as to be fully organized in 18,54 as the State asylum for idiots at Syracuse. Dr. Wilbur remained in charge of this institution until his death. He published numerous reports and other papers on idiocy. A tablet with the following inscription has been placed on the walls of the asylum: "Hervey Backus Wilbur, M. D., the First in America to Attempt the Education of the Feeble-Minded; and the First Superintendent of this Asylum. By his Wisdom, Zeal, and Humanity he Secured its Permanent Establishment. To his Memory this Tablet is raised by the Board of Trustees. "--Another son, Charles Toppan, physician, born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, 18 May, 1835, while a student of medicine became connected as a teacher with the New York state asylum for idiots, of which his brother was superintendent, and he was thus led to an investigation of the various forms of dementia. In 1858 he was called to assist in the organization of the Ohio state asylum for idiots at Columbus, and for some time he acted as its assistant superintendent. In 1859 he removed to Lakeville, Connecticut, and aided in the establishment of a school for feeble-minded children, which was afterward conducted by Dr. Henry M. Knight. In 1860 he was graduated at the Berkshire medical institution and returned to Ohio, settling at Marietta, where he began to practise. The following year he entered the volunteer service, and remained in the army until the end of the civil war as assistant surgeon and surgeon. In September, 1865, he took charge of the Illinois institution for the education of feeble-minded children at Jacksonville, and he was so successful in its management that the legislature subsequently voted the erection of larger and more appropriate buildings at a cost of $185,000. It was afterward removed to Lincoln, Illinois In 1883 he severed his connection with the institution, and the following year he opened a private asylum for the feebleminded at Kalamazoo. During his connection with the Illinois asylum Dr. Wilbur was instrumental in establishing similar institutions in Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and other western states. In January, 1882, he founded the " Philanthropic Index and Review," a monthly publication devoted to the interests of feebleminded children, and the only periodical of the kind in existence.