Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Mount Auburn: Pathways of Connections | Page 14

Stories Behind the Stones:
Mount Auburn and Harvard: An EnduringBond
by Brian A. Sullivan, Archivist
Mount Auburn and Harvard University share
Sumner and fellow classmates raised funds for an impressive
innumerable associations but this is perhaps most pronounced
monument of Egyptian Revival design and the inscription
in the existence of the Harvard College Lot (330, Ama-
was “ascribed to the pen” of Charles Chauncey Emerson
ranth Path). In 1832, Statesman Edward Everett (1794-1865)
(1808-1836), brother of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
spoke about the growing connections between the newly
Here lies the body of John Hooker Ashmun, Royall Professor of
consecrated Cemetery and the University:
Law in Harvard University, who was born July 3, 1800, and died
“The vicinity of our venerable University suggests
April 1, 1833. In him the science of Law appeared native and
an interesting train of associations, connected
intuitive; he went behind precedents to principles: and books were
with this spot. It has ever been the favorite resort
his helpers, never his masters. There was the beauty of accuracy in
of the students. There are hundreds now living,
his understanding, and the beauty of uprightness in his character.
who have passed some of the happiest hours of the
Through the slow progress of the disease which consumed his life,
happiest period of their lives, beneath the shade of
he kept unimpaired his kindness of temper, and superiority of in-
the trees in this secluded forest. It will become the
tellect. He did more sick, than others in health. He was fit to teach
burial-place for the University. Here will the dust
at an age when common men are beginning to learn, and his few
of the young men, who may be cut off before
years bore the fruit of long life. A lover of truth, an obeyer of duty,
their academic course is run, be laid by their
a sincere friend, and a wise instructor.
classmates. Here will
On September 12, 1845,
be deposited those
Sumner visited Mount
who may die in the
Auburn to attend Justice
offices of instruction
Story’s funeral and later
and government...” 1
recalled:
Months later, on April 5,
…The afternoon was
1833, “Harvard Hill” received
of unusual brilliancy,
its first burial, Harvard Law
and a full-orbed sun
School Professor John
gilded with mellow
Hooker Ashmun, who had
light the funeral
died after a long struggle
stones through which
with tuberculosis at the age
I wound my way, as
of 33. Professor Ashmun had
I sought the grave of
the distinction of being
another friend of my
named Royall Professor of
own, the first associate
Law at Harvard University View on Harvard Hill. Engraving by James Smillie, 1847.
of the departed Judge
at the young age of
in the duties of the
twenty-nine. Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Law School, Professor Ashmun…I remember
and Harvard Law School colleague, Joseph Story, delivered
listening to the flowing discourse which Mr. Justice
Ashmun’s eulogy.
Story pronounced over [him] in the College
Slight deafness and a feeble voice had prevented Professor
Chapel in 1833, nor can I forget his deep emotion,
Ashmun from “mingling much in society, but this seemed
as we stood together at the foot of the grave,
to bind him more closely to those who knew him intimately.
while the earth fell, dust to dust, upon the coffin
His affections were strong and constant, and his disposition
of his friend… 3
eminently social.…He was not in the habit of revealing in
On that luminous day, as Sumner stood on the summit of
words what was passing within him, but with his friends, the
Harvard Hill, with its view of the University to the East, he
tones of his voice, and the expression of his face, were an
may have found solace in the line inscribed on the monument
unerring index to the emotions, which were stirring his soul.” 2
of his professor:
One of those friends was recent Harvard Law School
“His pupils raise this stone to his memory.”
alumnus and future Senator, Charles Sumner (1811-1874),
and it was he who was the sole watcher over his mentor on
what turned out to be the last night of his life.
1 Quoted in ‘Harvard Hill in Mount Auburn,’ Harvard Illustrated Magazine, II
(1901): 241.
2 ‘John Hooker Ashmun,’ American Annual Register, volume 8 (1835): 435.
3 Charles Sumner, ‘The Funeral of Mr. Justice Story’ Living Age, volume 7,
(October 1845): 49
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