century association biographical archive

Earliest Members of the Century Association

View all members

Edward Spencer Mead

Publisher

Centurion, 1883–1894

Born 12 January 1849 in Ossining, New York

Died 10 January 1894 in Southampton, New York

Proposed by Not recorded

Elected 3 November 1883 at age thirty-four

Century Memorial

Edward Spencer Mead, whose funeral services took place this morning, was a member of the firm of Dodd, Mead & Co., the well-known publishers of this city. He graduated at Yale in 1868; and by his energy and ability brought his firm into a prominent place among the large publishing houses of the country. His wife was a daughter of John S. C. Abbott, the historian. He was a man of great intellectual ability; of the finest critical sense; well read; familiar with the best literature of all times; an author of great merit; with a keen sense of humor and great native wit, that made him a welcome guest everywhere. He had an indomitable will that has supported him in what at times appeared a hopeless struggle against failing health, and has kept him for years in active and useful life, though weak in strength, when other men would have yielded long before. His courage and cheerfulness in such trying conditions were the admiration of his many friends and endeared him to them all.

Henry E. Howland
1894 Century Association Yearbook