Eben E. (Eben Eugene) Rexford

Born in Johnsburg, New York, in 1848, he moved with his family to Wisconsin as a child and built a remarkably varied writing career. He published poems from a young age and went on to write short stories, verse, song lyrics, and books, while also becoming known as a horticultural writer and editor.

Rexford is especially remembered for lyrics that entered popular and religious life alike, including the well-known song "Silver Threads Among the Gold." He also contributed extensively to magazines and journals, and sources about his career note that he wrote many gardening books in addition to his literary work.

That blend of sentiment, practicality, and steady craftsmanship helps explain his appeal today. He was one of those versatile authors whose writing fit naturally into everyday American life, whether readers came to him for a poem, a hymn, a story, or advice for the garden.