Quotes:Newton, Henry Jotham

Zirkoff, Boris

Newton, Henry Jotham. American manufacturer and inventor, b. at Hartleton, Pa., Feb. 9, 1823; d. in New York, Dec. 23, 1895; younger son of Dr. Jotham and Harriet (Wood) Newton, both originally from Connecticut. When the father, a young physician of promise, died within a year of his son’s birth, the mother returned to her father’s home in Somers, Conn. Henry was sent to school there and afterwards finished at the Literary Institute of Suffield. He was then apprenticed for four years to Whittlesey Brothers, piano makers of Salem, Conn. His progress was so rapid that in three years he became a member of the firm. Five years later, 1849, he went to New York where he associated himself with Ferdinand Lighte in the piano business. In further association with the Bradbury Brothers, the firm soon won a leading place in the trade. In 1858 Newton retired with a competency, which he invested so judiciously in New York real estate that he died a millionaire. Early freed for the rest of his life to devote himself to his various hobbies, the chief of which was photography, he worked under the guidance of Chas. A. Seely, publisher of the American Journal of Photography; he outfitted a laboratory in his own home and engaged in innumerable experiments. He became known as “the father of the dry-plate process,” and was a pioneer in the preparation of ready-sensitized paper and the production of the paraffin paper process. For a long time he was Treasurer of the American Photographical Society, and after 1867, Chairman of the Photographic Section of the American Institute of the City of New York.

A scientific interest in spirit photography led Newton to the study of Spiritualism; he exposed a number of fraudulent mediums, including the famous Etta Roberts, by apparatus and tests which he originated. His faith in the truths of Spiritualism remained unshaken, however, and for the last twenty years of his life he was President of the First Society of Spiritualists in New York.

Newton became one of the original “formers” of The Theosophical Society in 1875 and its Treasurer for the first few years. He was directly involved, together with Col. Olcott, in arranging for the first scientific cremation in America, when, on Dec. 6, 1876, the body of Baron de Palm was cremated in Washington, Penna. He had been the executor of the Baron’s Will, and the event received nation-wide publicity, interestingly described by Col. Olcott in Vol. I of his Old Diary Leaves. Newton, however, did not accept H.P.B.’s explanation of Spiritualistic phenomena, and was greatly disturbed by what he read in Isis Unveiled. He later resigned from the T.S. with considerable bitterness.

Newton’s wife, Mary A. Gates, of Wetherfield, Conn., whom he married in 1850, was an accomplished musician and shared her husband's unorthodox views and interests. They had two daughters. Newton was run over and killed by a street car during an evening rush hour as he was crossing Broadway between 22nd and 23rd Streets, then “the most dangerous spot in New York.”

In the opinion of Col. Olcott (The Theos., XIV, Nov., 1892, p. 72), Newton was “a man of dauntless moral courage, most tenacious of his opinions and, having been for many years a firm Spiritualist, withdrew from our Society when he found that neither Mr. Felt nor H.P.B. were going to show him either an adept or an elemental...”

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 1, pp. 502-503

Newton, Henry Jotham. American manufacturer and inventor, b. Feb. 9, 1823, at Hartleton, Penna.; d. Dec. 23, 1895. Younger son of Dr. Jotham and Harriet (Wood) Newton, both originally from Conn. When father, a young physician, died within a year of son’s birth, mother went back to her father’s house, at Somers, 386 Conn. Henry entered school there, later graduated at Literary Institute, Suffield. Apprentice for four years to Whittlesey Bros., piano-makers, Salem, Conn., becoming three years later member of their firm. Went to New York, 1849, and associated himself with Ferdinand Lighte in the piano business. Married Mary A. Gates, 1850, an accomplished musician. Formed, 1853, the firm of Lighte, Newton and Bradbury, which became a leading one. Retired, 1858, with a competency. Invested in New York real estate, becoming a millionaire. After 1884, president of the Henry Bonnart Bronze Co. His hobby was photography, the top floor of his N. Y. home, at 128 West 43rd St., being turned into a photographic laboratory. Did a great deal of research, making a number of improvements in the dry-plate process; pioneer in the preparation of ready-sensitized paper, and was credited with working out the paraffin paper process. After 1873, served as Chairman of Photogr. Sect, of Amer. Inst, of the City of N. Y.

A scientific interest in spirit-photography led Newton to study Spiritualism; he investigated many mediums, exposing a number of them, inch Etta Roberts; became converted to Spiritualism; was trustee and for the last twenty years of life president of the first Society of Spiritualists in N. Y. He became one of the Founders of The Theosophical Society, and its first Treasurer. After the publication of Isis Unveiled, he resigned with some bitterness, unable to understand theosophical attitude towards Spiritualism. He was instrumental, together with Col. Henry S. Olcott, in effecting the first scientific cremation in America, Dec. 6, 1876, at the Crematorium in Washington, Penna., which disposed of the body of Baron Joseph de Palm. Newton was run down by a streetcar during the rush hour in New York, crossing Broadway between 22nd and 23rd Sts. He was survived by a son and two daughters.

Sources: New York Sun and New York Herald, Dec. 24, 1895; Photographic Times, Feb., 1896; Ann. Reports, Amer. Institute; Dict, of Amer. Biography.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 7, pp. 385-386