The Works of Eugene Field - The Writings in Prose and Verse of Eugene Field - Songs and other Verse Eugene Field, Sr. (September 2, 1850 - November 4, 1895) was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. He was known as the "poet of childhood." Field then set to work as a journalist for the St. Joseph Gazette in Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1875. That same year he married Julia Comstock, with whom he had eight children. For the rest of his life he arranged for all the money he earned to be sent to his wife, saying that he had no head for money himself. Field soon rose to become city editor of the Gazette. He became known for his light, humorous articles written in a gossipy style, some of which were reprinted by other newspapers around the country. It was during this time that he wrote the famous poem "Lovers Lane" about a street in St. Joseph, Missouri. Several of his poems were set to music with commercial success. Many of his works were accompanied by paintings from Maxfield Parrish. His former home in St. Louis is now a museum. The Eugene Field House contains many of Field's mementoes, including original manuscripts, books, furniture, personal effects, and some of the toys that inspired his poems.