Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Very, Jones

VERY, Jones, poet, b. in Salem. Mass., 28 Aug., 1813; d. there, 8 May, 1880. He was graduated at Harvard in 1836. In his youth he made several voyages to Europe with his father, a sea-captain. He was a teacher of Greek at Harvard from 1836 till 1838, was licensed as a preacher by the Cambridge (Unitarian) association, and, though never ordained over a congregation, preached occasionally. He published “Essays and Poems” (Boston, 1839). A complete edition of Mr. Very's essays and poems, with a biographical notice of the author by James Freeman Clarke, was published (Boston, 1886). His poetry is characterized by remarkable purity and delicacy of thought and great ease and simplicity of style.—His brother, Washington, clergyman, b. in Salem, Mass., in 1815; d. there in 1853, wrote hymns and poems for the press.—His sister, Lydia Louisa Anna, poet, b. in Salem, Mass., 2 Nov., 1823, from 1845 till 1875 taught in the schools of her native city. She shares the poetical gift of her family, and contributed poems to various Boston and Salem newspapers while engaged in teaching. As an artist Miss Very has produced excellent pictorial illustrations for children's stories. She has published “Poems” (Andover, 1856) and children's books.