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Marcus Dwight LARROWE

Marcus Dwight LARROWE

Male 1828 - 1896  (67 years)

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  • Name Marcus Dwight LARROWE  [1, 2] 
    Birth 5 May 1828  Cohocton, Steuben, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Gender Male 
    Birth 5 May 1832  Cohocton, Steuben, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Education 1854  Yale College, New Haven, New Haven, CT Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    The 1854 school catalog lists Marcus Dwight Larrowe, New York City, as a lawyer. 
    Census 2 Aug 1850  New Haven, New Haven, CT Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    • In the 1850 census Marcus, age 21, is enumerated as a teacher in the home of the Rev. Judson A. Root. Rev. Root was the principal at the "Young Ladies' Collegiate Institute" of New Haven, Conn.

      The institute was found in about 1830 and was located off Wooster Square.
    Census 17 Jul 1860  Ripon, Fond du Lac, WI Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    • The 1860 census lists M.D Larrowe and Mrs. M.D. Larrowe living in a "public house." His occupation is listed as lawyer.

      Mrs. M. D. Larrowe is a mystery at this point. She gives her age and birthplace as 22 (ca 1838) and VT.
    Census 12 Jan 1870  21 Bank Street, New York, New York, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    • The 1870 census shows Marcus and Nina at 21 Bank Street, NY, NY; Marcus, 37, b. NY, occupation"Literary Library"; Nina, 36, b. NY.
    Event-Misc Between Nov 1864 and Nov 1866  Austin, Lander, NV Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    • Marcus Larrowe was the state senator from Landry County. He was a member of the Union party.
      He was absent from the 1866 Session and an election was held to fill the vacancy.
    Event-Misc 1867  Cohocton, Steuben, NY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Marcus and his brother Albertus inherited the family farmstead upon the death of their father. Marcus sold his right to the home to his brother. Albertus was the founder of the Larrowe Milling Company which went on to become one of four companies combined to form General Mills.
    Event-Misc May 1879  London, ENGLAND Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    • Professor Alpohonse Loisette first seems to appear in May of 1879 in London, England. He promises to teach French in one fourth the usual time at his residence at 44 Newman Street. By 1882 he has moved to a new abode at 37 New Oxford Street and is advertising “Instantaneous Memory” by post or private lesson.
    Prof A. Loisette
    Prof A. Loisette
    Event-Misc Between 1886 and 1888  New York, New York, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    • Robert Frederick Foster (1853-1945), a native of Edinburgh, Scotland and "connected with some of the best families in Great Britain" was hired to be Loisette's business manager. It is said that Loisette's classes prior to Foster's hiring never exceeded two or three hundred, Foster "secured for his introductory lectures such as he had never before addressed, and his classes suddenly increased to more than a thousand."

      "Loisette Exposed" published the terms of Foster's employment. Compensation was "20% of the total amount received from any class organized by Foster, after the expense of organizing the class have been deducted." The author cited as an example a 14 week period between Dec. 10, 1887 and March 14, 1888. Classes were held at Michigan University (400), Baltimore, MD (1087), Detroit, MI (1005), Philadelphia, PA (1500), and Washington D.C. (1100). " Estimating the average expense for each city at $500, we have $2,500 to deduct from $25,000, realized from 5,000 pupils at $5 each. Of this Loisette received about $18,000 and Foster $4,500, besides expenses. From this it would seem that a man must have strong reason for resigning a position that had paid him over $50 a day for more than fourteen weeks and for which he had a four years' contract. It might also be interesting to know what induced Loisette to release a man who was puttiing $1,300 a week into his pocket, which he had to travel only a few miles, and talk about four hours a week to earn."
      The author further states that upon meeting Foster he learned he was thoroughly ashamed of ever having any connection with Loisette. "Mr. Foster soon discovered that he himself knew a great deal more of the "marvellous" system of memory in its practical application than Loisette, who was as subject to mind-wandering and had as poor a memory as any of the mental wrecks whom he so vividly portrays as "mnemonical teachers."

      "Loisette Exposed" even went so far as to publish Foster's letter of resignation, written on April 25, 1888 at Baltimore, calling Loisette a humbug and a fraud.

      Foster later published, in 1897, "Foster's Complete Hoyle: An Encyclopedia of All the Indoor Games Played at the Present Day." It was still being updated and re-printed as late as 1953.
    Resignation Letter    		 Resignation Letter
    George S. Fellows, Loisette Exposed
    Event-Misc Apr 1886  New York, New York, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    • The first ads touting a marvelous memory discovery which allows "any book learned in one reading." begin showing up in the United States. A search of newspapers finds ads from Vermont to California and Texas to the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. Pictured is the ad that appeared in "The Progress" in White Earth, MN, typical of most. The professor claims he is recommended by Mark Twain and W.W. Astor and that he has given classes at Yale, U of Penn., Wellesley and Chautauqua University.

      At about this time ads also begin appearing in Melbourne, Australia.
    Prof. Loisette    		 Prof. Loisette
    The Progress (White Earth, MN) Oct. 29, 1887, pg. 3.
    Event-Misc 1888  Washington, DC Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 12] 
    • George S. Fellows publishes a book that contains the complete "Loisette System" claiming several reasons that Loisette does not own a copyright to the system. In addition he states the system is not original to Loisette but a Dr. Pick. Fellows states he "has no interest in any Memory System whatsoever, and is actuated solely by that keen sense of justice and innate love of liberty, characteristic of every true American." Fellows feels if the system works it should be available to all, free of charge. From the preface of "Loisette Exposed," "The so-called Loisette System here presented, complete, has hitherto cost from FIVE to TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and the signing of a contract binding to secrecy in the penal sum of FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. If the system is worthless that fact should be made known. If it is all it claims to be, the whole world ought to have the benefit of it, and at last can have it, and at a price within the reach of millions. Here it is, and the intelligent public can judge for themselves."

      The book includes a section of "Testimonials of the Loisette System" including one written by Mark Twain at Hartford, March 4, 1887:

      Dear Sir:-Prof. Loisette did not create a memory for me; no, nothing of the kind. And yet he did for me what amounted to the same thing, for he proved to me that I already had a memory, a thing that I was not aware of till then. I had before been able, like most people, to store up and lose things in the dark cellar of my memory; but he showed me how to light up the cellar. It is the difference, to change the figure, between having money where you can't collect it, and having it in your own pocket. The information cost me very little, yet I value it at a prodigious figure.
      Truly yours,
      S. L. Clemons

      Loisette must have brough suit because on July 27, 1888 the New York Supreme Court ruled Prof. Loisette's system was original, being a new departure in the education of the memory. The court ordered Fellows to deliver up to Prof. Loisette the stereotype plates and all the books in his control.

      Note: The book is readily availabe on Amazon.
    Literary Piracy Condemned
    Loisette Exposed
    Event-Misc Between 1893 and 1894  CANADA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    • Ads begin appearing in Canada. For the most part ads in far flung places are for learning the system "by post." The Professor is still doing some lecturing including a stint in St. Paul, Minnesota where he gave both private and public lectures.
    Event-Misc 5 Nov 1894  New York, New York, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    • Alphonse Loisette applies for a passport for himself, his wife and manservant. He gives his occupation as "memory educator."
      He is described as 62 years old, 5'9' in stature, with a high forehead, blue, brown eyes, straight nose, average mouth, round chin, grey and thin hair, florid complexion and full face.
    Event-Misc 11 Aug 1895  Sydney, AUSTRAILIA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    • Professor and Mesdames Loisette arrive in Sydney aboard the "Tarwera" having departed Auckland, New Zealand.
    Name Professor Alphonse Loisette  [15] 
    Death 5 Feb 1896  Palace Hotel, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 16, 17] 
    • Larrowe's obituary incorrectly identifies him as a musician.
    Professor Loisette    		 Professor Loisette
    The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), Feb 6, 1896, p.11.
    Burial Larrowe Cemetery, Cohocton, Steuben, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 19] 
    Prof. A. Loisette    		 Prof. A. Loisette
    The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), Feb 9, 1896, p. 20.
    Person ID I16391  MM
    Last Modified 15 Jul 2023 

    Father John B LARROWE,   b. 14 May 1801, Wheeler, Steuben, NY Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Jun 1867, Cohocton, Steuben, NY Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth HOLMES,   b. 1801   d. 17 Jan 1862 (Age 61 years) 
    Family ID F588  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Nina CHURCHMAN,   b. 26 Mar 1844, Dubuque, Dubuque, IA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Mar 1921, Portland, Multnomah, OR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years) 
    Marriage 16 Aug 1864  Lander Co., NV Find all individuals with events at this location  [20, 21] 
    • In her autobiography Nina does not elaborate on her marriage except to say he died young. "He enters her story making visits to her parents house, visits which increase in frequency, and, in her words, "ended as most such visits do, in a trip to the hymeneal altar."

      Note: Marcus died in 1896 at the age of 68.

      Note: When Marcus was enumerated in the 1850 census at Ripon, WI it included a Mrs. M.D. Larrowe, age 36 (ie: 1838), born in Vermont. There is no record of Marcus having a wife prior to marrying Nina in 1864. Nina always lied about her age but I can find no record of her ever being east of Iowa during this time period. So, Mrs M.D. Larrowe remains a mystery.
    Divorce 1 Jun 1878  San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Find all individuals with events at this location  [22] 
    • A court notice appears in The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA), July 2, 1878, page 3, summoning Marcus D. Larrowe to appear before the court to answer the complaint filed by his wife Nina C. Larrowe. "The said action is brought to obtain a decree of this Court dissolving the bonds of matrimony heretofore and now existing....."
    Family ID F3707  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 23 Jul 2023 

    Family 2 Ida May HOUGH,   b. 25 Aug 1853, Sunbury, Northumberland, PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1953 (Age 99 years) 
    Marriage 23 Aug 1891  Manhattan, New York, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 23] 
    Family ID F5330  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 23 Jul 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 5 May 1828 - Cohocton, Steuben, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 5 May 1832 - Cohocton, Steuben, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 2 Aug 1850 - New Haven, New Haven, CT Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEducation - The 1854 school catalog lists Marcus Dwight Larrowe, New York City, as a lawyer. - 1854 - Yale College, New Haven, New Haven, CT Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 17 Jul 1860 - Ripon, Fond du Lac, WI Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 16 Aug 1864 - Lander Co., NV Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - Between Nov 1864 and Nov 1866 - Austin, Lander, NV Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - 1867 - Cohocton, Steuben, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDivorce - 1 Jun 1878 - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - May 1879 - London, ENGLAND Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - Between 1886 and 1888 - New York, New York, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - Apr 1886 - New York, New York, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - 1888 - Washington, DC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 23 Aug 1891 - Manhattan, New York, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - Between 1893 and 1894 - CANADA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - 5 Nov 1894 - New York, New York, NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent-Misc - 11 Aug 1895 - Sydney, AUSTRAILIA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 5 Feb 1896 - Palace Hotel, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Larrowe Cemetery, Cohocton, Steuben, NY Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Marcus D. Larrowe    		Marcus D. Larrowe

  • Sources 
    1. [S1840] 1840 United States Federal Census, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D. C., 1840), 1840.

    2. [S276] West Family Data, 276.

    3. [S573] National Archives and Records Administration, U. S. Passport Applications, (The Generations Network, Inc, Provo, UT), 573.

    4. [S1151] U.S., School Catalogs, 1765-1935, (American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA), 1151.

    5. [S1850] 1850 United States Federal Census, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D. C., 1850), 1850.

    6. [S1860] 1860 United States Federal Census, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D. C., 1860), 1860.

    7. [S1870] 1870 United States Federal Census, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D. C., 1870), 1870.

    8. [S1160] Nevada Legislators, 1861-2017, 1160.

    9. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The Times (London, Greater London, England), Fri., May 16,1879, p.3, Daily News (London, Greater London, England),Fri., Oct. 5, 1883, page 1., 1155.

    10. [S1164] George S. Fellows, Loisette Exposed, (G. S. Fellows & Co., New York, 1888), 1164.

    11. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The Progress (White Earth, MN) Oct. 29, 1887, pg. 3., 1155.

    12. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The Sun (New York, New York) 27 Jul 1888, pg. 5, 1155.

    13. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The Saint Paul Globe (Saint Paul, MN) April 25, 1893, page 8., 1155.

    14. [S1163] New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant P, (State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia), 1163.

    15. [S1161] Prof. A. Loisette, Assimilative Memory, (Funk & Wagnalls Co., New York and London, 1899), 1161.

    16. [S1162] England & Wales, National Probate Calendar, (London, England), 1162.

    17. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), Feb 6, 1896, p. 11., 1155.

    18. [S286] Painted Hills Genealogy, 286.

    19. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), Feb 9, 1896, p. 20., 1155.

    20. [S415] Nevada, Marriage Index, 1860-1987, (Nevada County Court Houses, 1982 - 1996), 415.

    21. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The Neighbor (Portland Oregon) August 1984, page 11., 1155.

    22. [S1155] Newpaper Articles and Obituaries, The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA), July 2, 1878, page 3, 1155.

    23. [S1158] New York Marriages, 1686-1980, 1158.