J. M. Stillman

JAIRUS MAXSON STILLMAN, Mus. Doc., Professor of Music in Milton College. As a composer he has had many valuable contributions, especially to sacred music, but, while his work in that direction has been most important, his labors have been more especially directed to the educational side of the art. For the past fifteen years, with brief interruptions, he has filled his present collegiate chair, and his work prior to the acceptance of this position was most active, varied and successful.

Mr. STILLMAN was born February 20, 1834, in Alfred, Allegany Co., N.Y., the third in order of birth of the six children of Maxson and Lydia (CHAPMAN) STILLMAN. His father, a tenor singer of talent, had not only for many years led the choir of the large church at Alfred of which he was a member, but had taught singing schools in many places surrounding his home. His son inherited great aptitude for music, and at the age of ten years could read plain music at sight. He accompanied his father to singing schools, and made rapid progress in the mastery of the principles of music. He attended the singing classes in Alfred Academy.

He is the associate author of "Good-Will for Sabbath Schools," "The Cluster," and "Anthem Treasures," the latter two being well-known and popular anthem books. He has also composed a large number of pieces for other anthem and Gospel hymn books, and a number of songs published in sheet music form. At Chicago he acted as one of the judges, with Prof. T. Martin TOWNE and others, in selecting from 700 original pieces of music, and in critically editing those which should be published in the work called "International Lesson Hymnal No. 1," published by David C. COOK. In 1884 an excellent article on "Church Music and How to Sustain it," written by Dr. STILLMAN, appeared in the "Seventh-day Baptist Quarterly."

Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin" (c)1901; pp. 2-4.