James Pedder

Background

James Pedder was born on July 29, 1775 in Newport, Isle of Wight, England. He was the youngest of a family of ten children.

Education

Little is known of his childhood or of his formal education, but that James Pedder was well trained seems certain from his later accomplishments.

Career

In the early years of his married life James Pedder lived at "Buckberry Farm" on the Isle of Wight. About 1809 he went to London and became an assistant of the celebrated chemist and writer, Dr. Samuel Parks, remaining with him for nearly ten years. During this period he published a little book for children, The Yellow Shoestrings, or, The Good Effects of Obedience to Parents (1814), which is said to have gone through seventeen London editions and at least two in the United States. About 1819 Pedder was obliged to give up his position with Dr. Parks on account of his health. He went to the Isle of Jersey where, after his recovery, he took charge of Trinity Manor House near St. Heliers for three years, during the absence of the lord of the manor.

During the next two years James Pedder was engaged in supervising the erection of the chemical works of Amireux and Le Breton. This position he left to take charge of the vast estate of John Christy, the indigo merchant, who from the extent of his possessions in Brecknockshire, Wales, was familiarly known as "The Prince of Wales. " For about seven years Pedder remained in his employ. Believing that America would furnish better opportunities for his labors, he emigrated to Philadelphia in 1832 and was soon appointed by the Philadelphia Beet Sugar Society to make an investigation of the methods employed by the French in the culture of the sugar beet and the manufacture of beet sugar. After spending six months in France, he laid before the Society his findings, published later in a volume entitled Report Made to the Beet Sugar Society on the Culture in France of the Beet Root (1836).

Subsequently James Pedder was employed for several years by Joseph Lovering, the well-known sugar manufacturer of Philadelphia. From April 15, 1840, to July 1843 he edited the Farmers' Cabinet, an agricultural journal of merit and very considerable influence, published in Philadelphia from 1836 to 1848. He was a member of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture and was elected librarian on February 2, 1842. About 1844 he became corresponding editor of the Boston Cultivator, and in 1848 resident editor, which position he continued to hold until his death. While he was associated with the Farmers' Cabinet, he began the publication in its columns of "Frank; or Dialogues between a Father and Son on the Subjects of Agriculture, Husbandry, and Rural Affairs, " intended especially for the children of farmers. This popular series of articles was reprinted in part in other agricultural periodicals of the period, namely, the American Farmer, the Cultivator, and the New Genesee Farmer, was published in book form in 1840, and passed through several editions.

A work of a technical character which also enjoyed a considerable popularity for several years was his book entitled The Farmers' Land Measurer, or Pocket Companion (1842), reprinted as late as 1890. His last days were spent in comparative retirement, but he continued his editorial work up to a few months before his death, which occurred in his eighty-fifth year, at Roxbury (now part of Boston), Massachussets on August 27, 1859. He was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery.

Achievements

• James Pedder was a distinguished agriculturist and author. He published several books for children.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Report made to the Beet sugar society of Philadelphia, on the culture, in France, of the beet root

    (This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)

  • The Farmer's Land-Measurer, Or, Pocket Companion

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Frank, or, Dialogues between a father and son microform: on the subjects of agriculture, husbandry, and rural affairs

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

Connections

James Pedder was married to Eliza Wilkins.

Spouse:

Eliza Wilkins Pedder

Daughter:

Bessie A. Pedder

Daughter:

Anna Pedder