Hosmer was born on May 27, 1810, near the town of Brimfield, Massachusetts, to Eleazer and Clara (Needham) Hosmer.[1] He studied at the Franklin Academy in Plattsburgh, New York.[1]
In 1831 Hosmer was admitted as a probationer to the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Church, and was ordained as a minister two years later.
Between 1848 and 1856 Hosmer was the editor of the Northern Christian Advocate newspaper, owned by the Methodist General Conference.[1] Hosmer was a strong believer in Wesleyan philosophy, and during his incumbency at the Advocate he was a strong advocate for both antislavery and temperance issues.[1] Due to a schism within the Methodist church, his stance eventually led to his replacement as editor in June 1856 by Rev. F. G. Hibbard.[1] Following his removal from the Northern Christian Advocate, a new paper called The Northern Independent was established and Hosmer appointed as its editor. Hosmer remained editor of The Northern Independent until "stricken by paralysis ... while delivering a temperance address" in 1871.[1][2] He also wrote articles and essays for other periodicals, including the Methodist Quarterly Review.[1]
Hosmer was a charter trustee of the Genesee College in Lima, New York, which later became Syracuse University.[1][3]
He died in his home in Auburn, New York, on the morning of Monday, June 17, 1889.[3]
The higher law, in its relations to civil government : with particular reference to slavery, and the Fugitive Slave Law (Auburn: Derby & Miller, 1952),[7] dedicated to William Seward.[1]
Slavery and the church (Auburn: W.J. Moses, 1853)[7]
Media related to William Hosmer at Wikimedia Commons
