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Henry Ropes.
Second Lieutenant 20th Mass. Vols. (Infantry), November 25, 1861; first Lieutenant, October 2, 1862; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.Henry Ropes, the youngest son of William and Mary Anne (Codman) Ropes, was born in London, May 16, 1839. His parents at that time and for the three years following resided in England. Soon after their return to this country Henry was placed at the Chauncy-Hall School in Boston, where he remained more or less steadily till 1852 or 1853. At this time his eyes began to show disease, and for the succeeding six or eight years they were a constant source of trial. As he had a very vigorous constitution and an active, inquiring mind, this infirmity hindered and annoyed him beyond measure. He was obliged to leave school and was for a short time under the instruction of Mr. William W. Goodwin, now Professor of Greek in Harvard College. On the departure of Mr. Goodwin for Europe in the summer of 1853, Henry was placed under the care of the late George D. Porter, and afterwards of Sidney Willard, who fell at Fredericksburg as Major of the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers. Mr. Willard was of the greatest service to Henry in developing his physical powers by gymnastic exercises, —boxing, rowing, walking, and fencing. Under his tuition he passed four happy years, during the last of which his eyes became sensibly better. Having completed his preparatory studies in July, 1858, he obtained admission to the Freshman Class of Harvard College, passing a satisfactory examination and entering without conditions. He was at once recognized as a leader by his classmates, and took an active and prominent position among them. Hardly had he begun, however, the duties of his first term in College, before the old weakness of the eyes returned, and increased to such an extent that, at last, much against
